Elderly Woman Mauled by Dog
83-year-old, from Caerphilly, fighting for her life in hospital
An 83-year-old woman's fighting for her life after being savaged by a dog in Caerphilly.
The pensioner suffered "life-threatening injuries" in the attack just half a mile from a house where a ten-year-old boy was killed by another dog just a year ago.
Three people - two men, aged 20 and 31, and a woman of 28 - were arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.
The dog was seized by police officers before being put down.
Gwent Police said the woman, who hasn't been named, sustained life-threatening injuries while the 55-year-old man was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Det Ch Insp Matthew Sedgebeer said: "Officers will be making further enquiries at this time and will remain at the scene as the investigation progresses."
He added that residents may see ongoing police activity in Caerphilly as part of the investigation, but said there was no cause for alarm. The three arrested people were later freed on bail.
It follows a campaign by their local MP for tougher sentences for dog attacks after a schoolboy was killed by a seven-stone pet named Beast.
Wayne David MP is calling for a change in the law to make sure owners have a responsibility to train their dogs properly so they are not a threat.
It comes after ten-year-old Jack Lis was mauled to death by a killer XL Bully dog named Beast after going to a house in Caerphilly, South Wales.
Mr David, 65, who represents the town, says he will "continue to campaign until the law is changed" after progress stalled in Westminster.
Amy Salter, 29, and Brandon Hayden, 19, were in charge of the animal when it attacked Jack after school in November last year.
Hayden was jailed for four years and six months while Salter was handed three years at Cardiff Crown Court.
Mr David said it was "a terrible shame" laws hadn't been changed to prevent further tragedies.
He said: "Following Jack's death, I secured an adjournment debate on the floor of the House of Commons about Jack's death and the inadequacy of the law on dangerous dogs.
"There was an encouraging response from the minister at the time but little has happened since.
"The government is continuing to examine academic and professional opinion on the issue of dangerous dogs.
"But the political instability inside government has contributed to them being unable to come forward with proposals for changes to the law.
"This is a terrible shame because I believe there is an emerging consensus on how the whole approach to dangerous dogs, and dogs generally should be changed."
Hayden had bought the dog just five days before the attack on Jack and asked Amy Salter if it could live in her home.
Jack went to an address in Penyrheol, Caerphilly, on November 8 last year when he was attacked by Beast and suffered unsurvivable injuries.
Hayden, of Penyrheol, Caerphilly, and Salter, of Trethomas, Caerphilly, admitted owning or being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.
The dog named Beast, was shot dead by armed police officers following the attack on Jack.
The UK's dangerous dog laws bans the ownership and breeding of four breeds of dog - the pit bull terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro.
But Mr David says laws should be updated to make sure all dogs are properly trained regardless of their breed.
He said: "Most people now accept that it is inappropriate that only four dog breeds are listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act. And this doesn't include the type of dog which killed Jack.
"Instead, there ought not to be a list of certain dogs, which will always have exceptions, but there ought to be a 'comprehensive' approach to ensure that 'all' dogs are properly trained.
"It would be up to owners to ensure that all dogs are not a threat.
"I will continue to campaign until the law is changed."