An XL bully dog has been put down after it mauled 10-year-old Savannah Bentham to death.
The pet attacked Savannah inside her family’s static caravan in East Heslerton, a village near Malton in North Yorkshire, at about 4.15pm on November 1.
A neighbour from the caravan site rushed inside to help the girl while a relative locked the dog inside a car before it was seized and taken to a kennel.
The schoolgirl, described as ‘beautiful and intelligent’, was declared dead on the scene.
Why the dog attacked the girl is unclear, with evidence so far suggesting it was ‘out of character’ for the dog to be violent, police said.
The dog was identified as an XL bully and was euthanised by a vet on Tuesday, police said.
It had been with the family for four years and had a Certificate of Exemption under the new legislation. It had also been neutered.
A force spokesperson said an autopsy will take place on the dog to help determine if there were any medical factors involved.
In a statement released via the police, Savannah’s family said: ‘We are utterly shocked and devastated by what happened to Savannah. We can’t believe we have lost our wonderful girl who we love so much.
‘We thank everyone for their support and kindness as we struggle to come to terms with our loss.
‘We ask that our family’s privacy is respected while we grieve for Savannah.’
Savannah, an only child, had moved to the village with her family during the summer, locals told MailOnline.
One local farmer, who asked not to be named, said the ‘really polite’ girl ‘was a lovely little lass who you would see riding her bike around’.
He said: ‘The mother ran out from the static caravan screaming “my baby’s dead”. Some people from the caravan site went over to help. She was obviously really distraught.
‘The police got here very fast, there were two helicopters, ambulances turned up and an armed response unit. Someone put the dog in a car apparently.’
He added: ‘The dog is an XL bully. It has been certified and is well looked after. It’s a very big dog.
‘I’ve seen it around the pub a few times, it doesn’t bother anyone or other dogs and is well-behaved.’
Another man, who was in a pub beside the caravan site at the time, said: ‘It’s terrible. I have a son aged 11 of about the same age who knew her. I’ve not told him yet.
‘She was a really beautiful little girl and very intelligent for her age.’
A caravan site official said: ‘We knew they had an XL bully dog. We only knew [the girl] because her mum had asked if she could play in the park and we said ‘Of course she can’.
‘[The girl] told us she had a new dog. It was not that long ago. We used to come onto the park and play with the other children.
‘I have never seen or heard the dog and I am here every day. [The girl] had said to herself ‘We have got a new pet’.
‘Other children who played with [the girl] in the yard said it was a family pet.
‘The static caravan arrived during the summer in a field next to the Snooty Fox caravan park outside the village of East Heslerton.’
Owning an XL bully has been restricted since 1991 but amid rising concerns due to its involvement in numerous fatal attacks, it was made a criminal offence to own one without an exemption certificate in February.
Between November 2021 and February this year, XL bullies killed 15 people in the UK, according to the advocacy group Bully Watch UK. More than half were by larger XL bullies, which can weigh up to 70kg and stand 23 inches.
Researchers say that while XL bullies aren’t more likely to act aggressively, they can be more dangerous. Though given the dogs have only existed since the late 1980s, research is still spotty.
The police added: ‘Our thoughts remain with the girl’s family and friends at this very distressing time. Officers are supporting the family while enquiries continue.
‘We also urge people not to speculate about the incident, respect the family’s privacy and allow them to grieve in peace.
‘We will provide more information when we are able to.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
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