My son Jack Lis was mauled to death by a dog called ‘Beast’… I carry out the same ritual on his birthday every year

A MUM whose son was mauled to death by a huge dog called "Beast" says she carries out the same ritual on his birthday every year.

Jack Lis, 10, was savaged by the muscular eight-stone hound in Caerphilly, South Wales, back in November 2021.

He tragically died from "severe injuries to the head and neck" after being mauled by the canine as he visited a pal.

Jack had been with a pal from Cwm Ifor Primary School when the horror unfolded.

He was outside his house playing when they went to his pal's home in a neighbouring street.

Once inside, the 10-year-old - who didn't know the hound was aggressive - was "attacked by a dog".

Jack would have turned 12 today and to mark the occasion Emma, for the second year in a row, visited the cemetery to sing him happy birthday and blow bubbles in tribute.

She hopes to continue the tradition over the years with friends and family by her side.

The heartbroken mum told : "He would be 12. It's harder when events come by that remind us of him.

"There is always an event or something happening and it's still very difficult.

"[Jack’s younger brother] James is finding it very hard – he's struggling massively. But we just try and take every hour as it comes. We can't change what's happened can we?"

Emergency crews rushed to the house but Jack's injuries were "unsurvivable" and he was declared dead at around 4.15pm.

He was identified by photos provided by his family to the manager of the mortuary.

A crown court heard that Beast had been captured on CCTV in the days before the incident jumping up and attempting to bite people in the street.

Beast's owner, Brandon Hayden, was eventually sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while Amy Salter, who was asked by Hayden to take care of the dog at her home, was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Both Hayden and Salter were banned from owning a dog indefinitely.

Jack's mum Emma is now campaigning to highlight the callous practice of breeding dangerous dogs for money - for example mixing breeds to get a "muscle look".

She said: "If I can deter one illegal breeder or bad owner or stop one family from going through what we've gone through then I’ll keep going."

It comes as the nation was hit by a spate of dog attacks the past year.

Britain is battling an epidemic of vicious maulings, with incidents already hitting a 40-year high.

Dog walker Natasha Johnston, 28, was out with a pack of hounds in leafy Surrey when she was mauled to death on January 12.

While four-year-old Alice Stones was killed in her back garden in Milton Keynes.

Police scrambled to the scene in and gunned down the killer dog that mauled the young girl to death.

In 2022, a whopping ten attacks resulted in fatalities - meaning in the last twelve months, 12 people have been killed.

Dog behaviourist Nanci Creedon says people need to be prepared in case pets suddenly strike.

She warned that many often make the same critical error when dealing with an aggressive animal - and it could cost you your life.

Meanwhile a An RSPCA dog specialist believes that the increase in Brits buying puppies in the last two years could have caused the high rates of fatal attacks.