Police sieze dogs, arrest owners in Liverpool raids

By Staff
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LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) Nineteen suspected dangerous dogs were seized today in Liverpool and seven people arrested following the death last week of a five-year-old girl who was killed by a banned breed of dog.

About 60 police offices, including dog handlers and nearly 30 RSPCA officers were involved in the raids, which are part of a crackdown in Liverpool on the keeping of banned breeds, Merseyside Police said.

The raids were pre-planned after tip-offs from the public.

Last week eight dogs were seized in two raids in the city after Ellie Lawrenson was fatally attacked by her uncle's pit bull terrier in the early hours of January 1. The youngster's grandmother was also badly injured by the dog.

A 23-year-old man has been questioned by police in connection with the attack.

Lawrenson died at the scene from serious head and neck injuries. Her grandmother, Jackie Simpson, underwent surgery after suffering damage to her arms and severe injuries to her thumb and elbow.

The dog, which was destroyed immediately after the incident, was just over a year old and had been owned by the family since it was a puppy.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act, owners of pure-bred pit bull terriers can be held responsible for their pets' actions.

''Today's operation underlines our comitment to tackling the problem of dangerous dogs in our communities,'' said Superintendent Dave Connor from Merseyside Police.

''It is clear that some people keep pit bull terriers as a status symbol,'' he added in a statement.

''They may not fully understand the implications of owning this type of dog. There is, though, a criminal element that keep them for more sinister purposes. Dog fighting is a barbaric activity and it will not be tolerated.'' The RSPCA estimates there may be around 100 people involved in dogfighting in Britain, 170 years after it was banned.

REUTERS KD HS1812

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