On Friday 10 April, Jack Biscoe found his daughter, Jamie-Lea dead at home. The 19-year-old was killed by their family pet, a Lurcher Cross dog named Shy.
Having been described as the teen’s ‘best friend’ before the tragic attack, Jack has begged for the dog and her two puppies to be put down.
He found Jamie-Lea collapsed in the evening with bite wounds to her neck in Leaden Roding, Essex.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said at the time: “A 37-year-old man from Dunmow, arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury resulting in death, has now been bailed until July while enquiries continue.
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“The dog, which was a family pet, has been seized, and it is believed to be a Lurcher Cross, but tests are underway to formally establish the precise breed.”
Jack bought Shy as a puppy at seven weeks old, and told The Sun there hadn’t been any indication she was dangerous, having had her for several years. Now pictured for the first time, he described Shy as the ‘softest dog’, having no history of biting or being aggressive.
“My daughter was not killed by an XL Bully, she was killed by a genuine family dog,” he said.
“I thought I could trust that dog with my life and it took my daughter’s life. She was my daughter’s best friend and she still killed her.
“I lost my entire life on Friday when my daughter was murdered by another member of my family. Witnessing the horror and destruction it has caused me, it’s not worth it. Treat them as dogs, give them their beds, be careful.”
The dad said he asked the police to ‘please just put her down’ as he doesn’t want to see Shy ‘ever again’ and doesn’t think the ‘dog should live anymore’.
And he is calling for her 18-month-old pups, Bella and Mouse, to be put down also.
“Those dogs have seen too much. They need to be put down in my opinion. I don’t want them to live in this world now,” he explained.
“Even though the youngsters didn’t do anything, they’ve seen too much and I don’t think they could ever be placed with a family again…
“They could never possibly be rehomed after that situation. I think the best thing for them would be to put them to sleep.”
While Jack was trying to save Jamie-Lea, Shy also bit off part of his ear and left puncture wounds in his arms.
What is the law when a family pet causes death?
The Crown Prosecution Service explains that if a dog attack has led to serious injury or death, the maximum sentence is 14 years imprisonment. This includes cases where a family pet kills a member of that family.
In criminal trials where someone is charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the prosecution has to prove that an action or a failure to do something by the dog's owner resulted in it becoming dangerously out of control.
It adds: "It is not necessary to prove recklessness or intent. It is no defence that the owner had no reason to appreciate that their dog might behave in this way."
The court might order that the dog be put down if they think it poses a continued danger to public safety.
Jess Battison