Dog that mauled Bella-Rae Birch to death was an 'American Bully' which the toddler's father 'bought off a mate for buttons' as neighbour says: 'Even an adult wouldn't stand a chance against a dog like that'

  • The dog which mauled Bella-Rae Birch to death was an 'American bully' bought by the father 'off a mate' 
  • Neighbours told MailOnline: 'Even an adult wouldn't stand a chance against a dog like that' 
  • Little toddler was brutally killed by the vicious animal at home in St Helens, Merseyside on Monday 
  • Her mother Treysharn Bates has launched a crowdfunder to cover funeral costs as police probe dog 

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The dog which savagely mauled a ‘beautiful’ baby girl to death at her Merseyside home was allegedly a fully-grown brown American Bully that the 17-month-old’s father ‘bought from a mate a week ago for buttons’, neighbours have told MailOnline.

Bella-Rae Birch was brutally killed by the vicious animal at home in Blackbrook, St Helens during a horrific attack on Monday afternoon.

Locals described the child’s mother Treysharn Bates ‘crying hysterically’ outside the property before emergency services rushed Bella-Rae to hospital, where she tragically died of her wounds.

Merseyside Police said officers destroyed the dog and are currently trying to establish whether it was an illegal breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. A force spokesman confirmed they are also trying to find out who the dog’s previous owners are. 

Neighbours previously claimed that the dog was either a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or Pitbull Terrier. However, MailOnline has now been told that Bella-Rae’s father Ryan Birch allegedly bought the dog – an American Bully breed – from a friend a week ago. 

‘Even an adult wouldn’t stand a chance against a dog like that’, one local said. They also claimd that Mr Birch had allegedly posted pictures of the American Bully on Facebook in the week before the attack, but these have since been taken down.

American Bullies are legal to keep and breed in the UK. The only four breeds it is illegal to own without a court exemption are American Pitbull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazileiros. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 also criminalises cross-breeds of the four illegal types – meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited ‘type’.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers look similar to Pitbull Terriers, but they are legal and common pets.

MailOnline has contacted Merseyside Police for comment. 

It comes just months after Jack William Lis, 10, was killed by a vicious dog nicknamed ‘Beast’ while playing with a friend after school in Penyheol, Caerphilly. 

Undated family handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of Bella-Rae Birch

Undated family handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of Bella-Rae Birch

Neighbours have told MailOnline that Bella-Rae’s father Ryan Birch allegedly bought the dog – a brown American XL Bully breed – from a friend a week ago, and ‘was intending to stud it out for puppies for £2,000 each’ (stock image)

Neighbours have told MailOnline that Bella-Rae’s father Ryan Birch allegedly bought the dog – a brown American XL Bully breed – from a friend a week ago, and ‘was intending to stud it out for puppies for £2,000 each’ (stock image)

Pictured: Dog victim Bella-Rae being held by her parents in a family photo

Pictured: Dog victim Bella-Rae being held by her parents in a family photo

She also set up a crowdfunder for funeral costs which raised more than £2,100 in just 16 hours

She also set up a crowdfunder for funeral costs which raised more than £2,100 in just 16 hours

The family will hold a vigil at St Helens Church on March 30 in the toddler’s memory

The family will hold a vigil at St Helens Church on March 30 in the toddler’s memory

Merseyside Police giving a press conference outside the home of the dog attack on March 22, 2022

Merseyside Police giving a press conference outside the home of the dog attack on March 22, 2022

What's the Dangerous Dogs Act? Which dogs are banned? And why is it controversial? 

WHAT IS THE DANGEROUS DOGS ACT?

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.

It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker 'to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs' after a string of attacks.

WHICH DOGS ARE BANNED IN THE UK?

It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are:

  • American Pitbull Terriers;
  • Japanese tosas
  • Dogo Argentinos;
  • Fila Brazileiro  

The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers look similar to Pitbull Terriers, but they're legal and common pets.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A DOG ATTACK?

You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. 

You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.

If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with 'malicious wounding'.

And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. 

WHY IS THE ACT CONTROVERSIAL? 

Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous.

However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving 'dangerously out of control dogs', banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences.

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Last night, Bella-Rae’s mother Miss Bates set up a crowdfunder for funeral costs which raised more than £2,100 in just 16 hours. 

She also announced that the family will hold a vigil at St Helens Church on March 30 in the toddler’s memory, and changed her Facebook profile picture, using an image of Bella-Rae. 

In a statement on GoFundMe, Miss Bates said: ‘On the 21st of March we sadly lost our gorgeous blue eyed baby girl, who was just one year of age, in a tragic sudden accident. We are now in a position where we need to raise funds towards the most beautiful send off. Every little will help, every little is appreciated. Thank you everyone’.

A poster advertising the vigil shared on Facebook says: ‘Please join us in creating a beautiful vigil and balloon release in memory of Bella-Rae. Music and mascots will be involved to create a memorable evening.’

Yesterday, Bella-Rae’s family said in a statement released via police that the toddler ‘will be sadly missed but never forgotten’, and are ‘trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of our much-loved Bella-Rae’.

Leaving flowers outside the family home in St Helens on Tuesday, one eyewitness who was close to tears told MailOnline: ‘It’s awful. I went over to help. I don’t want to go into what happened but all I will say is that they were doting family. They doted on that little girl. They were always out together.’

Another neighbour said: ‘You see it on the news, but when it happens on your doorstep it's devastating for the whole community.

‘It’s just heartbreaking. The brother of the little girl is in my boy’s class at school. My dad ran over and tried to perform CPR, he’s really devastated. He’s still in shock and won’t speak.’

One resident said: ‘We pulled up from school and heard screaming. I just ran over to try to help and started CPR until the paramedics took over.’

Joanne Matthews, 53, said: ‘She was such a beautiful little girl, toddling about. I’d see the family in passing, just to say hello, and they were always very pleasant.’

Describing the scene of yesterday’s attack, she told MailOnline: ‘I saw them bring the dog out. I couldn’t tell what breed it was but from the back it looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier or pit bull. It looked fully grown and not like a puppy.’

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she got home from the shops at about 4.30pm, when the area was busy with police. She said: ‘The mum was on the field at the front of the house crying. She was hysterical.

‘It is usually very quiet here and safe for children, but when you hear something like this has happened it is so distressing. It was heartbreaking to see her crying. She was inconsolable. I don’t want to imagine what she is going through.’

Neighbour Pauline Sharratt said: ‘It was such a shock. She was a 17-month-old baby, it’s heart-rending, it really is.’

Another neighbour Linda Burchill said she saw the dog being taken away by police. She added: ‘It seemed so placid at the time. The police put it in the back of a van on a leash.’

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: ‘Everybody is devastated. All the avenue was out, there was a helicopter but it couldn’t land.’

At a press conference outside the home yesterday, Merseyside Police Superintendent Steve Brizell said: ‘Bella-Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this devastating time. 

‘Our specialist family liaison officers are providing the family of Bella- Rae with support, and officers will remain in the area in the coming days to provide further reassurance and support for the wider community.

‘At this stage we understand the family dog they bought just a week earlier has attacked Bella-Rae inside the family home.

Undated family handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of Bella-Rae Birch

Undated family handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of Bella-Rae Birch

The scene at Bidston Avenue in St Helens, Merseyside on March 22, 2022

The scene at Bidston Avenue in St Helens, Merseyside on March 22, 2022 

Merseyside Police Superintendent Steve Brizell at a press conference outside the home on March 22, 2022

Merseyside Police Superintendent Steve Brizell at a press conference outside the home on March 22, 2022

A police officer wipes her eyes outside a house in St Helens on March 22, 2022

A police officer wipes her eyes outside a house in St Helens on March 22, 2022

Merseyside Police said officers received a report that a child had been attacked by a dog at an address on Bidston Avenue

Merseyside Police said officers received a report that a child had been attacked by a dog at an address on Bidston Avenue

A police car (bottom centre) outside a house in St Helens after a 17-month-old girl died

A police car (bottom centre) outside a house in St Helens after a 17-month-old girl died

Officers received a report that a child had been attacked by a dog on Bidston Avenue in Blackbrook, St Helens, Merseyside on Monday afternoon

Officers received a report that a child had been attacked by a dog on Bidston Avenue in Blackbrook, St Helens, Merseyside on Monday afternoon

‘Bella-Rae was taken by ambulance to hospital by paramedics but despite the best efforts of police officers at the scene and the paramedics and doctors, sadly Bella-Rae died as a result of her injuries yesterday afternoon. It’s left the family and the community grieving and in complete shock.

‘During the incident, the dog was handed over to police at the address and has been humanely destroyed. 

‘Detailed investigations are continuing into this tragic event, forensic examines to determine the dog’s breed are ongoing and we are working to identify the previous owners of the dog so we can establish its history.

‘We want to continue to support the family and the local community, and officers will remain at the scene on Bidston Avenue during the day today.’

In a statement on Twitter, local Labour MP Conor McGinn said: ‘The close-knit community in Blackbrook and across St Helens are in deep shock after yesterday’s tragedy.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the little girl’s family, who are devastated. I know everyone locally will respect their request for privacy as they grieve.’

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