Grandmother is the FIFTH person killed by a dog this year

Campaigners have demanded urgent changes to the law after two more dog attacks resulted in the death of a grandmother and the mauling of an 11-year-old boy.

The woman in her 70s, reportedly killed by the family pet while sunbathing at home in Warwickshire, was the fifth person to be killed by a dog this year.

The boy was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after being attacked in Manchester. 

Campaigners calling for reform to the Dangerous Dogs Act say the list of four banned dogs fails to tackle a wider problem that has seen adults and children maimed and killed by a range of breeds.

Labour MP Wayne David said: ‘We are seeing a huge escalation in the number of dog attacks and deaths, especially since Covid. 

The horror savaging – the latest in a wave of fatal dog attacks across the country – happened while the woman in her 70s was lying on a sun lounger at home in Bedworth, Warwickshire, at 3.50pm on Friday

The woman in her 70s, reportedly killed by the family pet while sunbathing at home in Warwickshire , was the fifth person to be killed by a dog this year. Pictured: The street the attack happened on

Labour MP Wayne David (pictured) said: ‘We are seeing a huge escalation in the number of dog attacks and deaths, especially since Covid’

‘A large number of people bought dogs during lockdown. 

‘We need a different approach towards the whole issue of dog control by moving away from the selective list of dog breeds. 

‘We need a more general approach that includes all kinds of dogs, including American XL bullies which cause numerous deaths.’

The latest victim died on Friday afternoon in Bedworth, Warwickshire. 

Wayne Stevens, 51, (pictured) was savaged by a dog belonging to his older brother at a home in Derby

Natasha Johnston, 28, (pictured) was mauled while walking eight dogs in Caterham, Surrey

Father-of-five Jonathan Hogg, 37, (left) was mauled by what was believed to be an XL Bully at a house in Leigh. Alice Stones, four (right) was attacked by the family pet in a garden in Milton Keynes

Her daughter and son-in-law were arrested on suspicion of possessing a banned breed of dog and owning a dog dangerously out of control after the horrific attack. 

An investigation is under way to see if the dog is among the four breeds banned by the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act – pit bull terrier, Japanese tosa, dogo argentino and fila brasileiro.

A neighbour said yesterday: ‘The dog attacked (her) while she was in the back garden on a sun lounger. 

‘Her son-in-law is very shocked and shaken and has no idea why the dog suddenly turned, and described it as an awful tragedy.

‘He was at work, so didn’t see the attack but (her daughter) tried to get the dog off.’