The dog that mauled four-year-old Alice Stones to death in a garden in Milton Keynes was not a banned breed, police revealed today.
Thames Valley Police said further testing was necessary to determine which breed the animal was, as the force formally identified the victim.
The animal was put down by armed police on last week after officers were called to a house in Broadlands, Netherfield by the ambulance service. Alice died at the scene.
Police previously claimed the dog – described by neighbours as being ‘big’ and ‘brown’ – was a family pet. The family are understood to only owned the dog for a matter of weeks.
The dog that mauled four-year-old Alice Stones (pictured on her last birthday) to death in a garden in Milton Keynes was not a banned breed, police revealed today
The dog at the centre of a fatal attack on a four-year-old girl Alice Stones (pictured) in Milton Keynes was a family pet, police said
‘Following the fatal dog attack in Netherfield, Milton Keynes last Tuesday, we can confirm that formal identification has now taken place,’ Thames Valley Police said in a statement today.
‘The four-year-old girl has been identified as Alice Stones.
‘There has also been a large amount of speculation around the breed of the dog. Although we are not in a position to confirm the exact breed of the dog due to the requirement for further testing, we are able to confirm that the dog is not a banned breed. ‘
Police were still on duty outside the end-of-terrace council house today. Flowers, toys and a balloon had been left on the pavement outside.
A fundraising page set up by Grace Wenahma said friends and family want to help out with funeral costs in a ‘desperate time of need’ and hope to raise £7,000.
The page describes Alice as a ‘beautiful’ girl who was lost to a ‘tragic, awful accident.’
‘We are the close friends and family of this loving mother and daughter, we are seeking support in raising money to help towards cost of funeral and living in this desperate time of need,’ Ms Wenahma wrote.
‘Anything that can be contributed will go towards supporting mum and family getting the help and support necessary In order to make this the most special and beautiful send off this little princess deserves.
‘We greatly appreciate everyone’s love and condolences, please help us in allowing this family the time to grieve during this heartbreaking tragedy.’
The fundraiser has already amassed £1,000 in donations.
A fundraising page has been set up to help out with funeral costs in a ‘desperate time of need’ and hope to raise £7,000. Pictured: Flowers and teddy bears at the scene on Broadlands, Netherfield, Milton Keynes on February 1, the day after Alice died
Locals on the Netherfield estate in Milton Keynes described hearing ‘an excitable’ dog, growling and barking at around the time the youngster was attacked.
It is understood the family took on the dog only a matter of weeks ago – and it was destroyed by armed police after officers arrived at the scene on January 31 around 5pm.
Thames Valley Police have so far refused to say how long it had been with the family, with detectives last week conducting house-to-house enquiries.
Alice’s heartbroken grandfather, who lives less than a mile from the scene, previously told MailOnline: ‘We’re just trying to come to terms with what has happened. It’s horrendous.’
Locals left flowers outside the house last week, as others described Alice’s mother’s ‘desperate screams’ as her child was killed by the animal.
One said: ‘I heard, “She’s dead! She’s dead!”. They’ll stay with me forever. It was a nightmare. I’m heartbroken. They will haunt me.
‘Heartbroken’ neighbour Rita Matthews said she would walk most mornings to the local primary school with Alice’s mother Louise. She said: ‘Alice was their only child. My daughter went to the same school and we would often walk together.
‘I never saw her with a dog, and she had never mentioned that they had got one. It is just heartbreaking and I cannot imagine what Louise is going through.’
Meanwhile, family friend Emma Prince wrote on Facebook: ‘Heartbreaking and unfair. Rest peacefully little princess.’
Lesley Dwyer, 65, said: ‘We came along past the house last night and heard a dog barking in the (victim’s) garden. It sounded like it was quite excited, it was growling and barking. I didn’t see it, but it sounded like a big dog – we have a dog and you can tell.’
She added: ‘It is just really sad.’
