Dog attack rotherham today, Mum-of-two Joanne Robinson, 43, was mauled to death by her pet dog American Bully XL dog in an attack at her home which almost killed her partner who is still recovering in hospital
The victim, 43-year-old mum-of-two Joanne Robinson, was attacked in her home by one of the family’s two American Bully XL dogs.
She is understood to have been pinned down by the jaws of the pet, named Rocco, after coming home from a night out.
Her partner, Jamie Stead, 42, suffered devastating injuries to his face, hands and chest as he tried to pull the animal away from her and is still recovering in hospital.
He has reportedly undergone skin grafting for the potentially life-changing injuries.
Joanne was earlier described as a “beautiful angel” by her friends in tributes left near her home in West Melton, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Pictures of the tragic animal owner have now been released following the fatal attack as police in Rotherham took the dogs away.
The house has been cordoned off as forensic examinations get underway.
One tribute read: “To our beautiful angel up above. You will never be forgotten. Love you always.”
Joanne’s heartbroken mum, Dotty Robinson, told The Sun: “I just hope it was quick and that she didn’t suffer too much.”
The gran-of-nine said two-year-old Rocco and the family’s other Bully XL Lola, also two, have been destroyed today.
She said Joanne and Jamie have had the unrelated pair since they were puppies.
Dotty was adamant the dogs “were not dangerous”.
“I don’t know why they suddenly snapped,” she continued, suggesting it could have been the heat.
“Rocco’s a big dog, he’s bigger than a lion.”
South Yorkshire Police said: “We were called to a property on Masefield Road in West Melton last night around 10:15 pm when a member of the public stated that a dog had attacked him and a woman.
“Officers arrived with the Yorkshire Ambulance Brigade and found a 42-year-old man with a potentially life-threatening injury to one arm, as well as injuries to the other arm, abdomen and face.
“A 43-year-old woman was mortally bitten, and, despite the best efforts of the rescuers, she was sadly pronounced dead on the spot.”
Joanne’s death comes after an attack in March by an American Bully XL which killed 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch, in her St Helens, Merseyside, home.
Police said the toddler was attacked a week after the family bought the dog.
Her mum Treysharn, said: “On March 21, we sadly lost our gorgeous blue-eyed baby girl, who was just one year of age, in a tragic sudden accident.”
Last month it was reported a Bully XL named Beast mauled to death schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, in Wales last year.
Beast had earlier been captured on CCTV in the days before the incident jumping up and attempting to bite people in the street, a crown court later heard.
American Bully XLs are not a banned breed in the UK.
DOGS PUT DOWN
She told how the animals had been humanly put down today, saying: “They have both been destroyed. Police told Steady and he agreed Lola should go too because of what happened.”
Jamie, 42, who runs a company making blinds, suffered injuries to his face, both arms, his stomach and has undergone skin grafting.
Dotty said: “He’s hoping to come home from hospital today but he is still in much pain.
“He knows Joanna has gone and is absolutely devastated as we all are. We will miss her so much.
“He’s had a horrible ordeal. He’s lost his partner of 20 years and his dogs.”
Jamie’s distraught mum, who had joined Dotty and other mourners outside the house, said she was too upset to speak out.
Emergency crews raced to the scene but it was sadly too late to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Dottie said the couple’s two children were “bearing up as best as could be.”
TERRIFYING TREND
It comes as animal welfare experts have blamed the UK’s dog mauling epidemic on lockdown “impulse buys” – as the rise in killer cases has more than doubled.
RSPCA dog specialists believe the increase in Brits buying puppies in the last two years could have caused the high rates of fatal dog attacks.
Reports from the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association show there has been a 54 per cent increase in dog attacks from 2020 to 2021.
The warnings come after a three-year-old was mauled to death by an out-of-control dog in May.
The month before, a two-year-old boy died following an attack by a dog in Worcester, and an eight-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after being bitten on the face in Cannock.
The Office for National Statistics figures show that in the decade up to 1991, 15 people were killed by dogs – but in the past ten years that has more than doubled to 32.
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