A joyful family decision to get a dog ended in tragedy when a pet attacked and killed seventeen-month-old Bella-Rae Birch at their Merseyside home. The incident, involving what neighbors suggest was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or Pitbull Terrier, occurred around 3:50 pm on a Monday afternoon. Despite immediate efforts, Bella-Rae succumbed to the severe injuries inflicted by the canine.
Devastated family members, friends, and neighbors gathered at the home, expressing deep sorrow. Bella-Rae’s family, thanking the community for support, urged privacy to cope with the loss. The family added, “She will be sadly missed but never forgotten.”
Authorities euthanized the dog, triggering an investigation into its prior ownership and potential violations of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. A trainee paramedic, Jordan, attempted CPR at the scene. Merseyside Police Superintendent Steve Brizell lamented the “unimaginably terrible circumstances” of Bella-Rae’s tragic death.