Dad, 37, mauled to death by American XL while he was looking after friend's dog | The Sun

A DAD was mauled to death by an American XL Bully dog after it turned on him while he was looking after it for a friend.

Jonathan Hogg, 37, entered the dogs' pen when it went for him, leaving bite wounds on his arm, leg and head, an inquest heard.

He was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries after the mauling in Leigh, Gtr Manchester, last month.

An inquest opening into his death, held yesterday, heard he'd been looking after the dog on behalf of his friend when the incident happened.

The breed of dog was not mentioned in court but had been previously confirmed by police.

Police Coroners Officer Julie Ann Hyde told Bolton Coroners Court today: "On May 18 this year, Mr Hogg had been looking after a friend's dogs on Westleigh Lane, Leigh.

"He entered the dogs' pen and one of the dogs attacked him, leaving bite wounds to his arm, leg and head."

"Sadly, he passed away at 2.05am on May 19 at Salford Royal Hospital due to his injuries."

A post-mortem exam found Mr Hogg's cause of death to be head and neck injuries.

PCO Hyde confirmed police enquiries were still ongoing into Mr Hogg's death, but did not know how long they are set to take.

Most read in The Sun

Coroner Prof Dr Alan Walsh ordered for statements to be taken from Greater Manchester Police, Salford Royal Hospital and Mr Hogg's GP.

He did not set a date for full inquest, but set a date for a review on September 1 this year.

Emergency services flooded the area of Westleigh Lane in the town after the horrified locals witnessed the attack and raised the alarm.

Armed police shot the dog – an American XL bully – dead on arrival after deeming it was a "significant risk".

A man, 24, has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog causing injury resulting in death.

A woman, 22, was also arrested on suspicion of money laundering. Both have been bailed.

Greater Manchester Police raided two houses and seized 15 dogs – six adults and nine puppies – believed to also be XL bullies.

The force said the dogs were being cared for at a specialist facility.
Cops also seized items worth £37,500 in the raids, believed to be the result of criminal proceeds, detectives said.

Jonathan, affectionately known as Oggy, sustained serious injuries in the horror attack, which took place just after 9pm on Thursday, May 18.

The owner of a nearby car dealership witnessed the horror attack and desperately tried to drag the animal off the Jonathan.

The victim's heartbroken family said in a statement released by police: "Jonathan was a well-loved, sensitive, and kind person who will never know how loved and appreciated he was by everyone who knew him.

"We have been inundated with messages of support."

Mr Hogg's brother Ian posted on social media: "Can't believe I'm writing this but rest easy kid. Heartbroken isn't the word."

Cops were called to a plot of land behind a garage, which appears to have been used for the training of dogs and includes a fenced off patch of artificial grass.

A ripped up football, a dog bowl and training bag were visible at the site.

A breeze block annex at the site appears to have been used to housethe dogs.

A ripped up mattress, a large bag of dog food and what appears to be dog kennels could be seen.

The horror attack came after a six-year-old boy's parents revealed he was lucky to be alive after being scalped by a dog bought on Facebook two weeks earlier.

SPATE OF MAULINGS

The attack prompted police to issue a warning about buying dogs from breeders advertising on social media.

And it follows a spate of maulings involving the breed, which shares DNA with banned American Pit Bull Terriers.

Six of the ten dog-related deaths in the UK last year were caused by bully or bully crosses, sparking calls from campaigners for the breed to be banned.

In March last year, 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch was killed in her family's home in St Helens, Merseyside, just a week after they bought the dog.

Read more on The Sun

I’m a parenting whizz – my hack keeps bugs and leaves out of your paddling pool

Guru shares why you shouldn’t sleep naked in the heatwave, even when baking

Schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, was killed in an attack by an XL Bully in 2021 while playing at a friend's house in Caerphilly, South Wales.

Also in 2022, Joanne Robinson, 43, was mauled to death by her pet Bully XL dog after it 'turned mad in the extreme heat' at a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Source: Read Full Article