American Bulldog mauls 3 year old boy to death, dog owner arrested by police (photos)

A 3 year old boy, Dexter Neal has died after being bitten savagely by an American bulldog in Essex, England. The owner of the dog, a 29 year old woman has been arrested by Police for allowing her dog to be left dangerously out of control with a toddler.

The cute youngster was bitten in a property in Parker Way, Halstead, at 5.40pm yesterday and died after sustaining injuries.

The victim

Paramedics rushed to the scene on Thursday evening and desperately tried to save the child’s life after screening the youngster from neighbors.

The child was then airlifted to hospital but tragically died from his injuries.
An Essex Police spokesman said: “Family liaison officers have been deployed to support the family and we strongly request that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

A man who lives close by, and didn't wish to be named, said he saw Dexter’s mother run to a local shop following the attack to pick up a defibrillator.

“My kids were playing out the front of the house. The boys mum came running screaming and shouting ‘my boy’s not breathing. I need the machine’. She got it and ran back with two people following her.

Later on the air ambulance landed on the field at the back. Every one came out to see what was going on.

"Two paramedics came through with the child. They screamed for everyone to get out of the way. They were doing CPR as they were moving him. Sadly it was too late. They covered him with a blanket. It wasn't a sight I wanted to see any way."

According to police, they saw a woman coming out of the house carrying a "bloody child" in her arms moments after the animal was dragged from the property with "its face covered in blood".

Scott Howell, 19, who called the police after realising what had happened, said: "They have only had the dog about a week because we heard it barking.

"It was a very big dog with short white fur. It looked like a pitbull. I heard this terrible screaming and thought it was kids playing in the garden, but then I thought this is going on a bit too long. I went to my parents' bedroom window facing the house and that is when I saw the man dragging the dog out. Its face was covered in blood. That is when I thought I need to call the police. As I was describing what was happening to the police I saw a woman come out of the house and she was holding a very bloody child in her arms. She quickly went back in the house. I could hear the man counting 'one two three four' like they were doing CPR. The whole while the woman was crying her eyes out sitting in front of the house. The dog was taken away and put into a police van. "I then heard the air ambulance come and that's when I left to go shopping around 6.30pm."

Bill Lambert from the Kennel Club (an organization that breeds and trains dogs), said: “The Kennel Club is extremely saddened by the tragic death of the young boy, and our thoughts and deepest condolences go to his family.

“Whilst we do not know the circumstances regarding the incident our advice to dog owners is to always ensure that children and dogs are supervised when together and that dogs are kept under proper control at all times. We would stress that the breed of dog is largely irrelevant and that far more important is the way that any dog is reared, socialised and trained. Any dog breed can be a wonderful pet or potentially dangerous in the wrong hands, which is why it is critical to have the correct training and socialisation.

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