Our teen daughter, 14, was mauled to death by four dogs at a friend’s sleepover – we demand urgent action
THE PARENTS of a teenager who was mauled to death by four dogs are demanding the government takes urgent action to stop attacks.
Jade Lomas-Anderson was just 14 years old when she was savagely killed by two bullmastiffs and two Staffordshire bull terriers at a friend’s sleepover.
The young girl was at her friend’s house when she suffered horrifying injuries back in March 2013.
Her heartbroken parents, Mike and Shirley Anderson are demanding a complete overhaul of the government’s legislation surrounding dangerous dogs.
At the time of Jade’s death, it was only illegal to have an out-of-control hound in a public place.
After fighting for tougher laws, Shirley and Mike influenced a change that saw private homes included.
But they believe the law still isn’t enough and needs to be “ripped up and started again”.
They also want harsher jail terms for the owners of vicious dogs.
The couple has requested to meet DEFRA Secretary Therese Coffey three times in the last two months – and says they have been ignored each time.
Mike told The Mirror: “We want to join the fight for urgent change.”
“We lost Jade and we can’t sit back and do nothing. But the Government is doing just that – nothing.
“My message to Ms Coffey and her team is, ‘I hope you’re sleeping well because we, the victims’ families, aren’t’.”
He added: “Things are at breaking point. We want justice for families.”
So far this year four people, including a four-year-old girl, have been killed by vicious dogs.
In the last ten years, there have been a whopping 42 deaths as a result of vicious hound attacks – and ten of these took place over the last 12 months.
The youngest victim was Bella Rae-Birch, just 17-months when a family dog – bought a week before the attack – savaged her to death.
Mike said: “Every time we see a case it takes us back to the pain we suffered. How are people still going through this?”
It comes after The Sun revealed that lethal dogs are being bought and sold on Snapchat and Instagram.
It takes just a single direct message on either of the two apps to send cash to a breeder and get your hands on an American Bully XL.
Some breeders of the canines – which are not illegal to sell or own – entice prospective buyers with slick ads set to gangster rap.
Breeders tell potential customers pups are ‘ready to go’ and to ‘hmu’ (hit me up) before revealing puppy prices into their thousands.