Bella Rae's mum shares details of tragic dog attack

As reported by the Star, Bella-Rae Birch was fatally attacked by the family dog at her home on Bidston Avenue, Blackbrook, at around 3.50pm on Monday, March 21, 2022.

Following the attack, Merseyside Police confirmed that the dog involved was an American Bully XL, which was "humanely destroyed" shortly afterward.

An inquest held earlier this year described the incident as an "unforeseen tragedy" where a "lawfully owned family pet, suddenly and without warning or any provocation took hold of [Bella]".

READ > Family share tribute to 'inspirational' mum who put up 'one hell of a battle'

Police at the scene of the attack in March 2022 (Image: PA)
After the tragedy made national headlines, there was an outpouring of tributes and heartfelt messages from the local community, with a vigil held in St Helens town centre and a book of condolence set up by the Star.

18 months after Bella-Rae's passing, her mum, Treysharn Bates, has now shared more details about the incident after admitting that she "still hasn't come to terms with what's happened".

In a first-person piece with that's life! magazine, Treysharn says that the dog, which she calls an American Bulldog, was her partner's friend's pet. She explains that the family were looking after the dog for a few weeks, with the option to keep it permanently.

A vigil was held in the town centre for Bella-Rae (Image: St Helens Star)
Despite questioning the "huge" dog's presence around her two children, and saying that she "wasn't happy", Treysharn states that she gave in as it was "just a trial". 

After the dog had been walked and her older son was picked up from school, the fatal moment came as Treysharn bounced Bella-Rae on her legs after she began to cry, and the dog suddenly lunged towards her.

Treysharn's partner Ryan managed to get the dog off shortly afterwards, but after hysterically screaming for help, she later found out the devastating news that her baby had died, where it "felt like [her] whole world had imploded".

She added: "I couldn't believe her life had been taken so quickly. One minute she'd been laughing and playing, the next she was gone."

A resident laying a floral tribute to Bella-Rae (Image: PA)
Despite the tributes and messages of condolence that the family was inundated with following the tragedy, Treysharn says that they also received "nasty comments online, blaming us for our girl's death, without knowing the facts".

This is why the family has set up a charity in Bella-Rae's honour, the mum tells that's life!, to "help others in similar situations to feel less isolated and judged".

Ending the interview, she added: "I want Bella-Rae's name to be associated with helping other families, rather than a toddler who died of a dog attack.

"She was a wonderful child and she deserves to be remembered for something more."