The mother of a 17-month-old toddler killed in a dog attack has paid tribute to her ‘gorgeous blue eyed baby girl’. Bella-Rae Birch was killed in a dog attack at her house on Monday, March 21 in Blackbrook, St Helens.
The dog, which had been brought home by the family just a week before, has been destroyed following the attack. The child’s mother Treysharn Bates has set up a GoFundMe page in honour of her daughter. The fundraiser has already amassed over £2,300 to help towards funeral costs, CheshireLive has reported.
She wrote: “On the 21st of March we sadly lost our gorgeous blue eyed baby girl, who was just one Years of age, in a tragic sudden accident. We are now in a position where we need to raise funds towards the most beautiful send off. Every little will help, every little is appreciated. Thank you everyone.”
The breed of the dog is currently being investigated by police to determine whether it is an illegal breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
In a police press statement close to the scene, Superintendent Steve Brizell said: "The community of Blackbrook and the whole of Merseyside has woken up today to the most tragic news. Officers were called to attend a house here on Bidston Avenue, at around 3.50pm yesterday.
"We were called by the family of a 17-month-old girl Bella-Rae Birch. Bella-Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this devastating time. At this stage we understand that the family dog they'd bought just a week earlier has attacked Bella-Rae inside the family home.
"Bella-Rae was taken by ambulance to hospital by paramedics but despite the best efforts at police officers at the scene, the paramedics and doctors, sadly Bella-Rae died as a result of her injuries."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police via the social media desk @MerPolCC or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, with reference 22000196837.
Alternatively, people can call CrimestoppersUK, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. You can also log onto https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
