Heartbroken family of girl, four, say they're 'overwhelmed with love' after she ... trends now
The bereft family of a little girl mauled to death by the family's new pet dog today declared they have been ‘overwhelmed with love’ since the tragedy as a picture of her on her fourth birthday was shared.
Alice Stones, four, was savaged by what neighbours described as a ‘bulldog-type’ animal at her home in Milton Keynes on Tuesday.
Police have said they were still trying to determine the breed of the dog that killed her in the family's garden.
In an update on the GoFundMe page raising money towards her funeral and 'send off', friend of the family Grace Wenham posted a new photo of little Alice blowing out the candles on her 4th birthday cake last August.
Ms Wenham said: 'The family of the little girl want to thank everyone who has donated, shared or sent their condolences during this horrendous time. Nothing has gone unnoticed and they are overwhelmed with the love felt by the community during this unthinkable tragedy'.
Alice Stones, four, (pictured on her last birthday) was savaged by what neighbours described as a ‘bulldog-type’ animal at her home in Milton Keynes on Tuesday.
Flowers and teddy bears at the scene on Broadlands, Netherfield, Milton Keynes
Locals on the Netherfield estate in Milton Keynes described hearing ‘an excitable’ dog, growling and barking at around the time the youngster was attacked.
It is understood the family took on the dog only a matter of weeks ago – and it was destroyed by armed police after officers arrived at the scene at around 5pm.
Thames Valley Police have so far refused to say how long it had been with the family, with detectives yesterday conducting house-to-house enquiries.
Alice’s heartbroken grandfather, who lives less than a mile from the scene, said: ‘We’re just trying to come to terms with what has happened. It’s horrendous.’
Locals left flowers outside the house yesterday morning, while others described Alice’s mother’s ‘desperate screams’ as her child was killed by the animal.
One said: ‘I heard, “She’s dead! She’s dead!”. They’ll stay with me forever. It was a nightmare. I’m heartbroken. They will haunt me.
‘Heartbroken’ neighbour Rita Matthews said she would walk most mornings
