Jack Lis: Mother pays tribute to 10-year-old killed in dog attack near Caerphilly
ITV News Wales and West of England Correspondent Rupert Evelyn hears from a community in shock and grief
Jack Lis, the 10-year-old boy killed in a dog attack at a house near Caerphilly in Wales, had been trapped in the property with the "large and powerful" animal, police have said.
The little boy was at a friend's house in Pentwyn, Penyrheol when he was attacked by the animal on Monday afternoon.
The dog was shot dead by firearms officers on the scene.
Jack's mother, Emma Whitfield, paid tribute to her son on Facebook.
"With so much heart break and before friends and family see his name in the news, I have to announce our beautiful boy Jack was taken so tragically yesterday," she wrote.
"It was not our dog nor did it happen in our family home. He was out to play.
"We love you so much, our sweet, sweet boy."
The community around Pentwyn is in shock after the attack.
Jack was a pupil at Cwm Ifor Primary School, Caerphilly, where head teacher Gareth Rees paid tribute to him.
He said: “The whole school community has been rocked by the tragic events of the past 24 hours."
"Jack was a bright and caring pupil who was popular amongst his peers and the teaching staff at Cwm Ifor.
"Our thoughts are very much with his family at this difficult time and we now need time and space to heal together as a school community.
"Appropriate support is being made available for pupils and staff over the coming days as we come to terms with this devastating news."
Gwent Police was called to the scene of the attack at around 3.55pm on Monday.
Officers managed to distract the dog so Jack could be removed from the house, but the 10-year-old died "instantly" at the scene, police said.
During a press conference on Tuesday, chief superintendent Mark Hobrough provided more detail about the investigation and said the breed of dog had not yet been identified.
Ch Supt Hobrough said: "At 3.55pm yesterday, Gwent Police received a call concerning a young male child who was trapped in a house in Penyrheol, Caerphilly, being attacked by a dog.
He said Jack was trapped in the house with the dog.
Ch Supt Hobrough continued: "Firearms officers destroyed the dog which was still continuing to act extremely aggressively and trying to escape the premises."
"I am unable to confirm the breed of dog at the moment, I can tell you that it was a large and powerful dog acting extremely aggressively at the scene."