Caerphilly dog attack: Jack Lis’, 10, heartbroken mum pays tribute to ‘sweet boy’ mauled to death by pitbull
A HEARTBROKEN mum has paid tribute to her "beautiful" ten-year-old son after he was mauled to death by a dog while visiting a school friend.
Jack Lis was savaged by the Pitbull-style animal in Caerphilly, South Wales, yesterday afternoon.
He had walked to his friend's home from Cwm Ifor Primary School when the horror unfolded.
His pal was later heard by neighbours screaming for help as armed police swooped on the street to destroy the animal.
Tributes have now flooded in for Jack after he was named by police today.
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His mum Emma, 32, wrote on Facebook: "With so much heart break and before close friends and family see his name in the news, I have to announce our beautiful boy Jack was taken so tragically yesterday.
"It was not our dog nor did it happen at our family home. He was out to play. We need the speculation to stop. The police will issue this formally later.
"We love you so much our sweet sweet boy."
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His headteacher described Jack as "bright, caring and popular" in a statement.
Gareth Rees said: “The whole school community has been rocked by the tragic events of the past 24 hours.
"Jack was a bright and caring pupil who was popular amongst his peers and the teaching staff at Cwm Ifor.
"Our thoughts are very much with his family at this difficult time and we now need time and space to heal together as a school community.
"Appropriate support is being made available for pupils and staff over the coming days as we come to terms with this devastating news.”
Neighbours described how Jack's friend ran from the home desperately shouting for help as the youngster was attacked yesterday.
Tracey Andrews said: "The boy who lives in the house came running out shouting for help. He said the dog was attacking his friend, biting his legs.
"One of the other neighbours ran in to help but it was impossible to get the dog off. It was a horrible experience."
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Another neighbour said the police were frantically trying to distract the raging animal as it attacked the lad.
Local Kirk Wiegold battled to pull the dog off little Jack - but described the animal as "just being too fierce to do anything."
A family member said: "He just wishes he could have done more but thinks it was too late. He's feeling really upset about it - it was horrible thing to see."
'MASSIVE' DOG
It came as locals said the animal was "known to be trouble" and reportedly bit another man and killed a cat in recent weeks.
A resident also claimed the “massive” dog had “lunged” at their three-year-old son a few days ago.
They said: “I took our son down to the local shop a few days ago, and he was down there then and he was lunging at my son.
“My son is three years old and I had to pick up my son just to move around the dog because of the size on him. He was absolutely huge.
“He wasn’t a pet – he was taking the owner for a walk, you know. He was massive.”
Local shop worker Tarjit Sandhu, 67 said the dog had recently been brought into the area and a family volunteered to look after it for a few hours as a favour to the owner.
He said: “The little boy who died was at the house with his little friend when the dog attacked.
“It is a fighting dog, an American pit bull, it hasn’t been in the village very long.
“A few days ago, it was tied up outside the shop where I work when a man customer bent down to stroke it.
“The dog bit him on the arm, it was quite a nasty bite.”
'SCREAMS'
Mr Sandhu said the attack had left the community in a state of shock and disbelief. “It’s a dreadful thing to happen,” he said.
Another local businessman said: "It happened soon after the children came home from school. I heard there were screams and shouting. It's awful."
Gwent Police confirmed they were called to a home in Pentwyn, Penyrhoel, at around 3.55pm yesterday.
They confirmed an investigation is ongoing with officers interviewing the dog's owner.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hobrough said: "My condolences and thoughts are with Jack's family, friends, school friends and everyone affected by this within the community.
"We can confirm that the attack did not happen in the house owned by Jack's family, but inside another property on a nearby street.
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"Officers are continuing to make further enquiries at this time and will remain at the scene as the investigation progresses."
Officers urged anyone with information to call 101.
