Poor kid, what a terrifying way to go
Teen killed by pack of dogs
A 14-year-old girl has been found dead in Britain after being mauled by five “out of control“ dogs, police say.
Police were called to a house in Atherton, near Manchester in northwest England, where they found the body and “were confronted by a number of dogs that were aggressive and out of control”, a statement said.
Four of the dogs, believed to be bull mastiffs and Staffordshire bull terriers, were put down humanely by armed response officers, while the fifth was secured inside the house.
The teenager named as Jade Anderson was believed to be visiting the house where she died.
There was no-one else in the house.
Superintendent Mark Kenny of Greater Manchester Police offered his condolences to the teenager's family and said the incident was “extremely distressing”.
“While our inquiries to find out what happened are ongoing, this girl's injuries are consistent with her having been attacked by dogs,” he said in a statement.
The dead dogs are being examined as part of the police investigation.
It is believed Jade was eating a meat pie when the dogs suddenly attacked.
Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reported that she tried to fight off the dogs but they overpowered her.
Neighbours said the five animals were a danger.
Friends described Jade as a quiet, timid and brilliant girl who they said was visiting the property to see a friend.
Each residence in the housing association estate has a backyard surrounded by high wooden fencing and at number five, signs at the front and back of the house warn, "Beware of the Dog".
A 15-year-old girl who goes to the same school as the victim described her as "dead shy".
"She (Jade) had a pie in her hand and has gone to bite it, she moved the pie and the dog's gone for her throat and then they have all gone for her," the girl said.
Another friend said the dogs at the house were large and aggressive.
"Every time you walk past the house they would be barking and barking and going mad," she said.
"You would jump out of your skin."
A man who identified himself only as Jade's uncle, asked for the family to be left alone.
"We don't even know what's happened yet. Jade was brilliant," he said.