TRAGIC schoolgirl Jade Lomas-Anderson was mauled to death by five crazed dogs yesterday — after she walked into a room eating a meat pie.
One of the animals leapt at the snack and as 14-year-old Jade tried to fight it off it grabbed her by the throat and dragged her to the floor.
The four others then joined in, savaging the helpless teenager.
Police who raced to the house were forced to shoot dead four of the dogs, said to be Staffordshire bull terriers and bull mastiffs, because they were so aggressive.
The fifth animal — believed to be a pitbull type — was safely subdued inside the house.
Jade’s stunned friends told how she was mauled at friend Kimberley Concannon’s house in Atherton, Gtr Manchester, yesterday afternoon after staying the night there.
One said: “Jade went to the shops to buy a meat pie and took it back to the house. We heard the dogs went for her as she tried to eat the pie. She tried to fend one off but apparently it went berserk and went for her throat.
“She was then overwhelmed by the animals inside the house.
“When the police arrived the dogs were outside apart from one.
“Jade was in the kitchen. We heard the gunshots. We believe the biggest dog took about nine bullets before it died.”Thomas Jefferies, 18, said: “My cousin said he heard gun shots and a lot of screaming.”
Another friend said: “The dogs were really scary. But Jade knew these animals so I don’t know why they all went for her.
“Presumably they must have smelled blood after the first dog attacked. It’s such a tragedy. She was a lovely girl.”
One local added: “Those dogs were always growling and barking in that tiny house. All the local kids were scared stiff of them.”
Oliver Carrick, 15, added: “They’re really mean dogs — they’re never let out of the garden and nobody goes in there.” The dogs belonged to Kimberley’s mum Beverley. Both were in the house during the attack.
Mrs Concannon is a breeder who sells Staffordshire bull terrier pups for up to £200 and has a Facebook page full of fierce-looking dogs.
She tells on her page how her favourite mastiff was so aggressive she had to have him castrated.
And she admitted the dog did not like children, adding: “He doesn’t like youngsters or screaming. He has gone to bite — but had him castrated to calm him down.”
Mrs Concannon also warned “a bully” could be deadly.
She said: “A growl from a bully is a warning not to go near them. You should never trust a bully.”
Her neighbours claimed a brown bull mastiff and two black Staffordshire terriers pictured on the Facebook page were among those who mauled Jade. Mrs Concannon was not at home last night.
One local said: “We spoke to Kimberley’s twin sister Katrina who told us that after the attack her mum ran off.
“No one has seen her since. She is scared she’ll be attacked because the dogs killed Jade.”
A tearful uncle of Jade’s, who answered the door at her home said: “She was a brilliant girl.”
Friends and classmates of Jade have laid flowers and tributes outside the Concannon house.
Natasha Hunt, 14, sobbed as she said: “Jade was really lovely. There wasn’t a bad bone in her body.
“I used to walk to school with her and we became really close.
“She was such a happy girl. I just wanted to pay my respects.”
A Facebook tribute page to Jade last night had more than 1,000 “likes.” Jade’s school, the Fred Longworth High School, also paid tribute to her.
A spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with her parents and family.”
Police Superintendent Mark Kenny said: “This is extremely distressing for all concerned.”
Neighbours of the Concannons complained that the estate was plagued by aggressive dogs.
One said: “You see blokes wandering around with huge rottweilers and kids with Staffordshire bull terriers. They’re seen as a status symbol.”
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