The family of a four-year-old mauled to death by a pet dog have described her as “a bubbly, bright little girl” who “fought for her life from the moment she was born”.
Lexi Branson died despite the desperate attempts of her mother Jodie Hudson to halt the attack in the lounge of their flat in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, family friends said.
In a statement, Ms Hudson and Lexi’s grandmother Kerry Hudson said: “There’s been a tragedy in the family. Lexi was a bubbly, bright little girl. She fought for her life from the moment she was born as she was born three months prematurely. She’s been taken from us so tragically.
“She will be sadly missed, she will be our shining star in the sky and she will never be forgotten.”
Lexi’s mother reportedly stabbed the dog to try to stop the attack and police confirmed it “died of stab wounds shortly after the incident which were sustained whilst trying to save Lexi”.
Police confirmed the dog was a bulldog, which is not listed under Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, and stressed officers were not treating the incident as a criminal investigation.
Detective Superintendent David Sandall, who is overseeing the investigation, said: “The flat remains cordoned-off to allow for a forensic examination and we are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragic death of Lexi and this will include the history of the dog.
“The family have understandably been left devastated by the events of yesterday and have asked that they and their friends are not contacted by the media and we request that their wishes are respected at this difficult time.”
Lexi was taken to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre but doctors were unable to save her.
Family friends said Ms Hudson had been told the dog was safe around children. The animal apparently attacked Lexi without provocation.
The fatal incident took place in Rowena Court, a cul-de-sac containing small blocks of flats.
Glennis Goddard, who has lived in the street for 27 years, said of Lexi: “She was a sweet little thing and used to run round here on a bike and knock on my windows.
“She used to play with our cats, outside. She wasn’t very big, only a little thin thing. It’s a terrible shock.”
Ms Goddard’s partner and carer, Oliver Temperell, said: “She had a little pink scooter and she’d go round and round the flats. She’d come up to our flat, tap on the window.
“She was very happy, everything was fun – as it is when you’re a four-year-old.”
Arthur Nash, another neighbour, said: “Everybody is in shock at the moment.
“When I saw an ambulance pull up, I thought it was an old lady on the court who had had a heart attack, and then the neighbour came up and said she had been killed by the dog.”
Angela McGlynn, mother of four-year-old John-Paul Massey, who died in Liverpool in November 2009 after he was savaged by his uncle’s dog, said the girl’s death raised painful memories.
“It brings everything back – straight back to day one all over again,” she told ITV Daybreak.
“I would like to send out my sincere sympathies to Lexi’s family because I know exactly what they are going through.”
She renewed her calls for all dogs to be muzzled around children under 12.
“My campaign is to raise pet awareness, to let people know that these family pets do just turn the way they do and it’s not just about breed, or just the dogs on the dangerous dogs list,” she said.
“The Government are putting some steps in place… but we can’t just rely on the Government – parents and adults have to take steps too.”
Flowers and balloons were left by well-wishers outside the flat. Uniformed police officers were on guard outside.