Tribute to ‘sweet, sweet boy’ killed in dog attack
THE family of a 10-year-old killed by a dog in Caerphilly have paid tribute to their “sweet, sweet boy”.
Jack Lis died at the scene of the attack in Pentwyn in the Penyrheol area of the town shortly before 4pm on Monday.
He was attempting to flee a house where he was being attacked by a “large and powerful” dog, and died after his friend managed to escape but he was left trapped.
The dog was destroyed by firearms officers and no other animals were involved in the attack.
Writing on Facebook, Jack’s mum, Emma Whitfield, wrote yesterday: “With so much heartbreak and before close friends and family see his name in the news, I have to announce our beautiful boy Jack was taken so tragically...
“It was not our dog nor did it happen at our family home. He was out to play.”
She urged people to stop speculating about what had happened.
“We love you so much our sweet, sweet boy,” she said.
In a conference outside Blackwood station yesterday afternoon Gwent Police Chief Superintendent Mark Hobrough said the force will be interviewing the owner of the dog.
He explained: “Officers have managed to distract the dog in the premises so that the child could be removed from the front of the address.
“Sadly the injuries have meant that the loss of life of Jack has happened instantly at the scene. There is an investigation ongoing currently.
“At the moment I am unable to confirm the breed of the dog. I am able to tell you it was a large and powerful dog and obviously it was acting extremely aggressively at the scene.”
As of last night, Gwent Police had not ascertained whether or not the dog was a banned breed in the UK.
Chief Supt Hobrough told the Echo that on arrival officers “could hear the dog barking inside and made a dynamic risk assessment straightaway to distract the dog at one side of the premises to allow other officers to remove Jack from the house”.
He said: “We’re still trying to establish an exact history and background to the dog. I can confirm it was owned by the people who lived at the house.”
Asked whether the children were alone with the dog, he said: “Jack has attended the house with his school friend after school.
“They have gone into the house and terribly that is where the attack has happened. They were alone in the house at the time.
“When the officers entered the property they immediately removed Jack but it was clearly apparent he had already died.”
It is understood Jack had arrived at his friend’s house after school to play but was attacked by the dog before his friend escaped the house and frantically ran to neighbours for help.
Tributes to Jack have been shared on social media, as well as outside the home where the incident happened.
Tracey Lawrence, who lives next door with daughters Carlie and Katie, said she arrived at home to find the boy outside the house.
“I’m glad my girls didn’t see that,” she said. “When they were distracting [the dog] I saw it jump on the sink and you could see the shoulders and head. That’s how big it is. It’s huge. Everyone is tragically upset.”
Lorraine Irvine, who lives in the area, said: “We saw all the police and the ambulances. Then a police car goes down. Next thing you know everyone was screaming in the street.
“It feels sombre because it’s a close community. It’s because it’s a child... so many people are so upset by it.”