Emma Dean, a 25-year-old mother, has shared the distressing details of a dog attack that left her family shaken and her mother-in-law, Joanne White, hospitalised. The incident took place on Saturday, February 15, around 11.40pm at her in-laws’ home in Woodchurch, Liverpool. Emma, who was staying there with her three children, ages nine, seven, and four, described how the family dog, Bruno, suddenly turned aggressive.

Emma recounted the harrowing moments leading up to the attack, stating, “We had been sleeping at my mother-in-law’s like we do on a weekend. My two eldest were asleep on the sofa bed in the living room, and my four-year-old had just woken up and came to me.” She explained that as her son approached, Bruno, whom the family had rescued just eight weeks prior, began to growl. Emma described the dog’s behaviour as protective, noting that when her son attempted to sit with her, the dog became aggressive.

As the situation escalated, Bruno nipped at the hand of Emma’s father-in-law, Gary Hall, who admonished the dog. Emma quickly took action, moving her children to safety before calling the police. She recalled, “I quickly got my kids on the chair I was sitting on and wheeled them to the back porch to safety and shut the door.” However, as she secured her children, Bruno launched a brutal attack on Joanne, who attempted to subdue the dog.

Reports indicate that Joanne suffered severe injuries, with Emma stating that she had been bitten over 60 times on her arms and face. Emma characterised the scene as chaotic and terrifying, revealing, “My main priority was my kids.” Despite her efforts to help Joanne, Emma felt powerless as she watched the attack unfold. “I thought my mum-in-law was going to die. It looked like she had been stabbed a billion times,” she said.

When Merseyside Police arrived, they encouraged Joanne to release Bruno, but she was apprehensive about the dog retaliating. The officers ultimately resorted to using a taser to subdue Bruno as he continued his attack, which resulted in the dog escaping outside.

Following the incident, Emma’s children were left traumatized, with her youngest expressing fears for his grandmother’s life. Emma shared her relief that her children were unharmed but noted the psychological impact the event had on them. “They have just been shaken up by it,” she commented.

Bruno was believed to be a Staffordshire breed, but Emma is now questioning his actual lineage, as a post-mortem is underway to determine his breed. She described Bruno as a “lovely dog” prior to the incident but noted that jealousy may have triggered his aggression. “From our point of view, he just got jealous of my son trying to get on my knee,” she explained.

The aftermath of the attack has left significant injuries for Joanne, requiring hospitalization and surgery. Emma highlighted the speed of her response, suggesting her quick thinking ultimately saved her family. A representative from Merseyside Police confirmed that one of the injured parties had been released from hospital, while another remained in care following the incident. The dog was humanely destroyed later.

Community reactions have been mixed, with acknowledgments of the severity of the incident and concerns raised about the circumstances that led to Bruno’s unexpected behaviour. Emma’s partner, Gary Hall, expressed gratitude towards his partner for her bravery, stating that without her actions, the consequences could have been dire.

Source: Noah Wire Services