A mother saved her kids from a family dog that turned violent. The dog attacked her in-laws in their Liverpool home.
The attack happened around 11:40 p.m. Emma was visiting her mother-in-law, Joanne White, and her two older children were asleep. Her four-year-old woke up and came to Emma in the kitchen, where she was sitting on a gaming chair.
The dog became protective of Emma when her son tried to sit with her. Bruno growled at the child, prompting Gary Hall, Emma’s father-in-law, to tell him off. Then the dog nipped Gary’s hand, which Gary dismissed as just a nip, leading Emma’s mother-in-law to inquire about what had happened.
Subsequently, the dog attacked Gary’s leg. Emma quickly moved her children to a porch, wheeling them there on the chair. She shut the door to keep them safe and then called the police.
While Emma contacted authorities, the dog attacked her mother-in-law on the floor. Gary escaped the dog and ran upstairs. Joanne jumped on the dog, trying to stop the attack, but the dog dragged her on the floor. Emma called the police again at this point.
Some reports indicated that the kids were playing hide and seek, but Emma stated this was not true. She felt helpless and couldn’t assist her mother-in-law, as her priority was to keep her children safe.
When police arrived, they instructed Joanne to release the dog, but she hesitated, fearing another attack. She eventually let go, but the dog continued to attack, so police used a taser on him, but it didn’t stop him; instead, he ran outside. Police then arrived at the back of the house and spoke to the kids.
Emma said the ordeal traumatized her children. Her four-year-old woke up right before it happened, and Emma was about to bring him back to bed when the violent event began suddenly.
Emma struggles with mental health, making the attack especially troubling for her. She feared her mother-in-law would die, as it seemed like she had been stabbed many times.
Originally, the family believed Bruno was a Staffordshire, but Emma now thinks he might be a mixed breed. Joanne, 44, and Gary, 43, rescued him and had him for only eight weeks before the attack occurred.
Emma described Bruno as a lovely dog initially, but he changed. They believed he was a Staffie. It was a terrifying event; Emma added that her mother-in-law suffered over 60 bites, and her father-in-law had a leg injury. Joanne is currently in the hospital and needs more surgery.
Emma feels relieved that her children are safe, though they are shaken by the experience. Her youngest thought his grandma died. The family loved the dog and believed he was good with children.
Bruno’s behavior surprised them; he seemed jealous of her son. He saw red when Gary told him off. He didn’t stop attacking after tasting blood. He usually listened to Emma, but not that day.
Emma is glad she was there and believes her quick action saved everyone. Bruno was put down humanely. They will examine him to find his breed.
Police shared new details after the attack and stated that one person left the hospital, while one remains there. The dog was put down. They did not identify its breed.