The devastated family of a pensioner who was killed in a brutal dog attack said they have lost their 'matriarch'. Shirley Patrick, 83 was mauled to death at a property in Heol Fawr, Penyrheol, in Caerphilly borough by a black extra large Bully cross Cane Corso breed on December 3.
The great-great-grandmother, who suffered from dementia passed away in hospital on December 20 after she sustained severe injuries as a result of the horrific incident. The aggressive dog that attacked her was seized by police and has now been destroyed, Wales Online reports.
A fundraiser has now been set up in her memory to raise enough money to hire a horse-drawn carriage for Shirley's memorial service on February 6. Her daughter Gail Jones, 63 explains that: "Her wish had always been that when she got married, she would have a white wedding and a carriage like a princess...but her dream really wasn't fulfilled because of her parents' wishes."
It's now hoped the money will be able to contribute towards Shirley's wishes on what would have been her 84th birthday. Four people were arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury following the attack but have now been released under conditional bail.
The savage attack occurred almost a year after schoolboy Jack Lis was fatally mauled by an XL Bully only a few streets down from where Shirley was bitten. Gail has argued that "something needs to be changed in the law" regarding aggressive dogs and has called for them to be muzzled when outdoors around vulnerable people.
Gail who's been left 'numb' by her mother's tragic death said: "Emotionally, I've cried at silly little things, like music that reminds me of Mam, or something like that, but I don't think it's actually hit me properly yet." Shirley who was born in 1939 had lived in Caerphilly all her life and was one of five children.
She met the love of her life Dennis when she was 14-years-old and he was aged 15 and the pair later married. The 83-year-old tried out a few careers before she supported her husband in his work as a professional singer.
Gail said: "She'd had a wonderful life going round the clubs with Dad...she went everywhere with him. She loved to dance...in later years, she enjoyed bingo with her sisters".
Gail described her mum as a 'very friendly' and charitable person who 'everybody knew' with a good social life. Shirley lived in the same property in Caerphilly for 60 years, having been the first person to move into her street.
The OAP began suffering from early-onset dementia after she and her husband were involved in a car accident that left Dennis with substantial brain damage. He later passed away in 2018 from cancer.
Gail added: "Mam by now had got really quite bad with the dementia. She went twice a week to a local hospital to attend a special group for people who had the disease, where she would play bingo, games and quizzes."
Gail said that towards the end of her mother's life, Shirley was 'very humble and fragile' and enjoyed days out. Her body will be cremated on her birthday and she and her husband's ashes will be laid together on March 1 which was the couple's wedding anniversary.
The OAP leaves behind her two kids, seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great-great grandkids. Gail said that her mother's sudden death has left her family in 'shock' as they have had no time to 'process' and 'grieve' following the attack which is currently being investigated by police.
She said: "All I know is that something needs to be changed in the law with these dogs...Pitbulls are banned in this country and these American Bullies actually have Pitbull in them - they're bred that way, so they've got the same temperament as a Pitbull.
She continued: "I think these type of dogs should be just used for the use that they're bred for - maybe guard dogs or something...And I'm not saying it's just [American Bullies], I think maybe any dogs which are bred for fighting should be either banned in Britain, or outside or anywhere, even in a house, where there are children, they should be muzzled."
The mum-of-three addressed the speculation surrounding a comment one of her mother's neighbours had mentioned to the press regarding how the killer dog got there. She said: "One of the neighbours mentioned [to the press] that my son, Lee Grenfell, who was a dog walker, had gone to the property, taken the dog there, and the dog had attacked his grandmother and killed her.
"That wasn't true. Lee did live with my mother for about two or three years but he hadn't lived with my mother for over two years. So I want that retracted...he's traumatised because of it." Gwent Police confirmed that three men aged 20, 25 and 31 have been arrested along with a 28-year-old woman, all from Caerphilly and remain on police bail.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Sedgebeer of Gwent Police said at the time of the death: “If you have concerns or any information regarding this dog and its previous behaviour then please do stop and talk with us. Alternatively, please call us on 101, quoting log reference 2200407170. You can also send us a direct message on Facebook or Twitter. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111."
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