A mother-of-two was beaten to death by her American Bully XL dog after he “went mad in the extreme heat”.
Joanne Robinson, 43, died at the scene of the attack on a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire on Friday night.
She is said to have been the owner of the animal named Rocco, which is on the legal dog breed list, and attacked her around 10pm.
Her partner, Jamie Stead, 42, was left with injuries to her hands, stomach and face when he tried to rescue her and pull the animal from her.
Joanne’s mother, Dotty Robinson, said the family was “in disbelief and shocked” by her death and believed the weather may have affected the animals.
She said Joanne has two XL bully dogs – Rocco, who was almost two years old, and Lola.
She said the pets were well behaved and “not dangerous,” but added, “I don’t know why they suddenly snapped. I can only imagine that they went crazy in the extreme heat. It must have triggered them.
Joanne Robinson (pictured) is believed to be the third victim of a legal breed to have killed two young children
A man also suffered life-changing injuries after the dog attack, police said. Pictured: South Yorkshire Police officers were at the scene on Saturday morning
Joanne is said to have been the owner of the animal named Rocco (pictured), which is on the legal dog breed list, and attacked her around 10pm
Joanne Robinson (pictured), 43, was killed by her American Bully XL dog at her home in Rotherham on Friday night
Dozens of flowers have already been laid at the scene
Bouquets with messages like “We love you!” were placed in front of the house. shows the outpouring of sorrow for Joanne
Crime scene photos show that the woman appeared to be well known and popular locally, a fact confirmed by her family
“Rocco is a big dog, bigger than a lion. He was like a little horse.”
she said The sun that Rocco and Lola were destroyed.
Dotty added of Jamie: “He’s hoping to get home from the hospital today but he’s still in a lot of pain.
Floral tributes were placed on metal railings in front of the house, while neighbors spoke of their shock and horror
A sign was posted at the gate of the property that read “Beware of the dogs”: “They will bite, you have been warned.”
The police took away two dogs. A man, who said he was the couple’s son, said: “I can assure you the dogs were treated well.” Pictured: A floral tribute and card for Joanne on Sunday
“He knows Joanna is gone and is just as devastated as all of us. We will miss her so much.
“He’s been through a terrible ordeal.
He has lost his partner of twenty years and his dogs.’
Floral tributes were placed on metal railings in front of the house, while neighbors spoke of their shock and horror.
One heartbreaking message read: “To our beautiful angel above. You will never be forgotten. Love you always.’
Neighbor John Allerton, 69, a retired miner, said: “It’s really very tragic.”
Another friend said: “I’m devastated. She was a lovely lady. You are a beautiful family.’
The police took away two dogs. A man, who said he was the couple’s son, said: “I can assure you the dogs were treated well.”
There have been numerous incidents involving Bully XL dogs and police confirmed in March that Bella-Rae Birch, a 17-month-old girl, was killed by one in her own home.
Police said the toddler was attacked at her family’s home in St Helens, Merseryside, a week after buying the dog.
It was also reported that a Bully XL beat Welsh schoolboy Jack Lis to death in a brutal attack last year.
Floral tributes were left to the mother, and neighbors described her as a “lovely lady”.
Cards and flowers have gathered outside the home where the couple lived, including a note from their children Elle, 24, and Dillon, 19, which read, “Mom, I love and miss you.”
South Yorkshire Police say two dogs have been confiscated and removed from the property and neither of them are on the banned breed list.
The force said both are not considered “prohibited breeds” under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
A statement from the force said: “We were called to a property on Masefield Road in West Melton by a member of the public at around 10.15pm last night who said a dog had attacked itself and a woman.
‘Officials attended with a Yorkshire ambulance [Service] crew and found a 42-year-old man with a potentially life-changing injury to one hand, as well as injuries to his other hand, abdomen and face. He was taken to the hospital for further treatment.
“The 43-year-old woman was fatally bitten and was pronounced dead despite the best efforts of rescue workers at the scene.
Forensic officers from South Yorkshire Police at the scene of a fatal dog attack in Rotherham
“The dog and another dog on the property were seized by specially trained officers.
“None of the dogs were of a prohibited breed.”
According to the UK Bully Kennel Club website, the American Bully XL is a large breed with male dogs measuring 51cm and over.
The club says: “Despite its considerable size, the XL is highly valued not only for its impressive stature, but also for its gentle personality and loving nature.
“It is a young breed from the 1980s and it is believed that the distinctive build and size combined with a compassionate nature means its popularity continues to grow.”
RSPCA links surge in Brits buying puppies during Covid to rise in deadly dog attacks
Reports from the Dog and Cat Behavior Association show that dog attacks increased by 54 percent between 2020 and 2021.
It is illegal to own four breeds of dog without a court dispensation.
They are American Pitbull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dog Argentinos and Fila Brazileiro.
The law also criminalizes crossbreeds of the four dog species mentioned above – which means that Whether a dog is prohibited depends on an assessment of its physical characteristics and whether they fit the description of a prohibited “type”.
