Heartbroken mother who watched in horror as dog ripped toddler from her arms and mauled her death says she will ‘never come to terms’ with tragedy – as she vows to help other grieving parents deal with the death of a child

• Bella-Rae Birch was killed by a vicious animal at home in St Helens, Merseyside
• Her mother, Treysharn Bates, wants to support families also dealing with grief
• Read More: Dog that mauled Bella-Rae Birch to death was an American Bully XL

A mother whose baby daughter was mauled to death in a freak dog attack is on a mission to help other families battling with grief.

Bella-Rae was just 17 months old when she sadly lost her life after being attacked by a vicious animal in her home in Blackbrook, St Helens.

Her mother, Treysharn Bates, was with Bella-Rae when the attack happened and did everything she could to save her daughter’s life.

However, due to the severity of the injuries, Bella-Rae was pronounced dead shortly after the attack.

Treysharn, is now on a mission to try and help other families who have lost children and also raise awareness on dog attacks.

Bella-Rae Birch, pictured, was mauled to death by an American Bully dog which had been recently bought by her father Ryan 

Bella Rae, pictured with her parents, Ryan, left, and Tresham Bates, right, died after being attacked by the dog at her home in St Helen’s, Merseyside

‘As a mother, losing a child is the worst thing that can ever happen, but watching a life be snatched away in such awful circumstances is soul-destroying,’ Treysharn told NeedToKnow.Online.

Merseyside Police officers destroyed the dog and launched a probe to determine whether it was an illegal breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. A force spokesman previously confirmed they are also trying to establish the dog’s previous owners.

The force previously confirmed that the dog was an American Bully, after neighbours told MailOnline that Bella-Rae’s father Ryan Birch bought the animal ‘for buttons’ just a week before the shocking attack.

She said: ‘I miss Bella-Rae every day and I still haven’t come to terms with what’s happened. I just think she’s sleeping over at nanny’s house.

‘I haven’t accepted anything yet and I don’t think I ever want to, but I have to stay strong for my little boy who still needs his mummy.’

The freak accident occurred in March 2022, after the family’s dog snatched Bella-Rae out of Treysharn’s arms.

Treysharn’s partner and Bella-Rae’s dad, Ryan, 25, was also there during the incident.

Treysharn says she can’t remember much from the attack as she ‘blacked out’ screaming for help.

Police and paramedics battled to save the young girl’s life, after she was attacked

The force previously confirmed that the dog was an American Bully, after neighbours told MailOnline that Bella-Rae’s father Ryan Birch bought the animal ‘for buttons’ (stock image)

When she was finally able to get hold of Bella-Rae, Treysharn rang an ambulance and ran into the garden.

She said: ‘I don’t remember much from the attack as I blacked out, me and Ryan did everything we could for it to end immediately.

‘I rang an ambulance and then ran outside with Bella-Rae, I blacked out screaming for help.

‘The neighbours rushed too over to help but it was too late, I wouldn’t let go of Bella-Rae until paramedics arrived.

‘Bella-Rae was taken in the ambulance with Ryan as they said I was too erratic but Bella-Rae had already passed away by then.

‘My beautiful girl gained her wings at 3:50pm, on the 21 March 2022 at home with me, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.’

Treysharn says Bella-Rae was a ‘happy’ little girl and that she made her life complete.

The mum now has to live each day missing her beautiful girl, but knows she has to stay strong for her son who is seven.

She said: ‘My life was complete, I had a little boy and now I had my little girl and everything was perfect.

Merseyside Police confirmed the killer dog was not on the banned breed list 

‘Bella-Rae was a happy, energetic, clever 17-month-old baby.

‘She loved music, dancing, singing and food, she was a brilliant eater for her age.

‘She could have a full conversation with you, count to 15 and knew mostly all nursery rhymes and words to songs that I listened to.’

According to Treysharn, the family had been given the dog a week before the incident and had made sure that it was safe for the children.

No legal proceedings took place as Bella-Rae was not on her own when the attack happened and the dog wasn’t under the Dangerous Dog Act.

Now, a year after the attack, Treysharn is hoping to share Bella-Rae’s story with the hopes of helping other parents who are battling with child loss.

She is also wanting to set up a charity in her daughter’s name to raise more awareness of dog attacks.

Merseyside Police giving a press conference outside the home of the dog attack on March 22, 2022

Treysharn said: ‘I want to help other families in our position as we felt very isolated and judged when this attack happened.

‘The purpose of the charity will be to talk and advocate and help people threw these tragedies.

‘Bella-Raes name would be out there helping families rather than being known as the toddler who died of a dog attack.

‘I don’t want my daughter known as the baby who got mauled, she was more than that.

‘I wish people would understand that this can happen to anybody, no matter what type of breed.

‘Bella was never left alone and nothing made the dog snap. This was just a freak accident that caused my daughter to lose her life.’

What’s the Dangerous Dogs Act? Which dogs are banned? And why is it controversial? 

WHAT IS THE DANGEROUS DOGS ACT?

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.

It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker ‘to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs’ after a string of attacks.

WHICH DOGS ARE BANNED IN THE UK?

It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are:

• American Pitbull Terriers;
• Japanese tosas
• Dogo Argentinos;
• Fila Brazileiro  

The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog – meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited ‘type’.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers look similar to Pitbull Terriers, but they’re legal and common pets.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE’S A DOG ATTACK?

You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. 

You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.

If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with ‘malicious wounding’.

And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. 

WHY IS THE ACT CONTROVERSIAL? 

Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous.

However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving ‘dangerously out of control dogs’, banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences.

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