Police confirm four-year-old killed by illegal breed of dog

The four-year-old boy mauled to death in Liverpool, UK, yesterday was killed by an illegal breed of dog Merseyside police confirmed today. The boy was named today as John Paul Massey.

As reported yesterday on Digital Journal, John Paul Massey was attacked by the dog shortly after midnight at an address in the Wavertree area of Liverpool. It's now confirmed that he died from neck and head injuries following the attack by the dog. The attack took place at the home of the boy's grandmother Helen Foulkes who was also injured in the attack. Police were unable to identify the breed of dog straight away but now the Merseyside force say that the dog was a "pit bull terrier type". Pit bull is a breed of dog banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act. A criminal investigation is now under way. Merseyside police have had to issue an apology for failing to follow up previous reports of dog breeding at the property in Ashgrove, Liverpool. As far back as February housing officers had informed police of complaints from other residents about dog breeding taking place at the property. However, the officers were told that it was not a matter for the police. Helen Foulkes, the boy's grandmother, was attacked as she tried to protect John Paul Massey from the attacking dog. She was babysitting for him at the time. The dog was shot dead by armed officers in the garden of the property after Foulkes managed to get it out of the house. Patricia Gallan, Deputy Chief Constable of the Merseyside police force said that identifying the breed of dog concerned had been "a complex issue".