Tributes were paid yesterday to a dad-of-two who was mauled to death by two XL Bully dogs in a quiet village.
Aston Villa fan Ian Price, 52, was attacked by the crazed animals just yards from his family home. He had been visiting his elderly mum, who lives opposite, when the dogs escaped from a neighbouring property. Horrified neighbours heard Ian’s screams as the XL Bullies launched their savage attack on Thursday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses in Stonnall, Staffs, told how the dogs tore his clothes from his body. Ian, who ran a restoration business from the family home, was airlifted to hospital but died from his injuries. His wife Heather, 50, is a teaching assistant at the village primary school, which was put into lockdown during the attack.
A local said: “We assume the poor woman was locked inside the school with the kids and had no idea her husband was the victim.” Neighbour Amanda Ward, 55, said her student nurse daughter witnessed the horror attack on Thursday. Apparently the dogs got out of a window and attacked Ian as he was outside his mum’s house,” she said.
“My daughter hearing screaming and barking and came running out to see what was happening. One of the dogs, a white one, was covered in blood and wagging its tail. She said it was a horrific sight. The dogs ripped the clothes off the poor man, literally shredded his clothes. He was only in his boxers. Some other neighbours were using wheelie bins to keep the dogs away from him. He was in a terrible state.”
Another eyewitness said that Mr Price was attempting to protect his elderly mum after the dogs got through the hedge behind her house and appeared in her garden. They told the Sun: “It was so awful. He was mauled to death and it was just horrendous. The dogs got through the hedge behind the house and appeared in the elderly lady’s garden. Both dogs set on him. Neighbours came out to help but many stood on this side of the fence because they were too frightened to get involved.
“One brave man got a big stick and was hitting the dogs and trying to get them off but the dogs just took no notice. They were in a frenzy. Eventually he got one of the dogs off the man and the other ran back through the hedge to its home.”
Staffordshire Police said the animals were believed to be XL Bullies but further tests are being carried out. One of the dogs died after being throttled at the scene and the other was put down by a vet. Police said a 30-year-old man, from the Lichfield area, had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Locals said the suspect’s girlfriend lives in Stonnall and he regularly leaves the dogs alone in her flat. Supt Tracy Meir said: “I would like to offer my condolences to the loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life in this horrendous dog attack. We are continuing to support them at this incredibly difficult time.
“Detectives continue to investigate and we have taken statements, viewed CCTV and carried out house-to-house enquiries.” West Midlands Ambulance Service said Ian died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital after suffering “multiple life-threatening injuries”. Locals said the same dogs caused “carnage” in the village store when they chased a dog walker about six months ago. One said: “She was walking her dog on the playing fields.
“The two dogs got out that day and chased her down the road, obviously scared out of her wits. It was carnage. The two dogs were after her dog. I think they had taken a few nips at him. The woman was hysterical but she was unhurt.” Police were called out to the incident, which saw customers jumping over the shop's counter, it is understood.
It comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced today that XL Bully dogs were due to be banned by the end of the year as they are a "danger to our communities". The PM said it is clear this is not about a "handful of badly trained dogs but is a pattern of behaviour".
In a win for the Mirror's campaign, he said the government is "urgently working to stop these attacks". He has tasked experts to define the breed of dogs behind a recent spate of attacks this week with a "view to then outlaw them" and ban the breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act. A recent dog attack in Birmingham, in which an XL Bully Staffordshire Terrier mix set upon an 11-year-old girl and two other men along a busy street saw the issue catapulted back to the headlines, and was met with growing calls to ban the breed of dog.
St Peter's CE Primary Academy said: "Staff at St Peter's CE Primary Academy were notified around 3.25pm of an incident on Main Street. The academy immediately sent a text through to all parents to notify them of the incident, with leaders and teachers advising pupils and parents to return to the academy site.
"The academy gates remained closed until further notification was received by the police; it was safe to reopen the site. The actions and behaviours of pupils, staff and parents during this incident was greatly recognised by the academy. St Chad's Academies Trust, who operates St Peter's CE Primary Academy, continues to support the pupils and staff along with colleagues from Lichfield Diocese, Schools Advisory Service and local clergy in providing as much support as it can to the school community at present. The academy has remained open. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, pupils, parents and staff at the academy who are hurting from this news."
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