Two-year-old Lawson Bond was mauled to death by three rottweillers at home in the village of Egdon on March 28. The toddler suffered a cardiac arrest due to the horrific injuries that he got.
The family drove him to the hospital. He was rushed on blue lights to Worcestershire Royal Hospital before he was transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital.
As per the Independent, the boy had a cardiac arrest when he was bitten by one of the dogs. He was initially declared in a critical but stable condition but later died. The dogs were removed from the home and were euthanized.
The family and residents paid a tribute to Lawson. The boy's family asked that their family be respected at this difficult time, according to the police.
Rottweillers and spate of dog attacks
The West Mercia Police confirmed that three dogs were removed from the family home. Police say no arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing. The dogs were later euthanized. As per the Dangerous Dogs Act in the UK, dogs were not among the banned breeds.
Locals nicknamed the dogs "the beasts." Villagers and dogwalkers told how some people were scared of the dogs. A neighbor said that people are intimidated by the family with those dogs. Hence, they call them "beasts" as they are always making such a racket.
The incident happened just a week after 17-month-old Bella Rae Birch died after being attacked by their family's new dog in St. Helens, Merseyside. The dog was bought by the family a week before the girl was attacked. Kyra Leanne King, a three-month-old baby died after a dog attack at a Lincolnshire beauty spot, the BBC reports.
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The Dangerous Dog Act
As per the act, it is illegal to own four breeds of dogs namely, American Pitbull Terriers, Japanese tosas, Dogo Argentinos, and Fila Brasileiro. The law also criminalizes the cross-breeds of the dogs.
In cases of dog attacks, the owner gets an unlimited fine or is sent to prison for a maximum of six months if the dog is dangerously out of control. The owner will not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be put to sleep.
The law was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker to get rid of fighting dogs after several reported dog attacks. The law is being challenged by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association, saying that there is no evidence that the said breeds are dangerous, Daily Mail reports.
Superintendent Rebecca Love, local policing commander for South Worcestershire announced the tragic incident in a press conference outside Worcester Police Station on Wednesday, March 30. The pre-inquest review for the case will be at Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport on Wednesday on August 31.
