Dogs Kill Boy, 6: Florida Boy Attacked By 2 Dogs He Lived With, Sheriff Says Animals Were ‘Well Cared For’

Two dogs killed a boy, 6, in Fannings Springs, Florida after he went outside to play at home. Gainsville Sun reports that the incident happened Thursday morning with two pit bulls the boy lived with. For reasons unknown, the dogs turned on the child. The boy’s father, who had custody of him, owned the dogs; he was at work when the dog attack took place.

Authorities haven’t revealed the boy’s identity until his mother is notified. According to Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, the boy’s aunt had come home from driving his father to work. She and the child arrived at the home she shared with her grandfather, with nothing out of the ordinary going on. Once they got home, the two dogs followed the child outside, which was “routine,” according to the sheriff.

While the aunt and grandfather were watching TV inside the house, the aunt checked on the boy outside and noticed him unconscious on the driveway. The family called 911 at 8:15, and units from the Fanning Springs Fire Department, Levy County Department of Public Safety, LCSO and Levy County Animal Control responded. When they arrived at the scene, the boy was pronounced dead.

McCallum says:

“It appears right now to be a terrible tragedy. The family is incredibly distraught.”

McCallum adds that the family hadn’t ever experienced problems with the two dogs previously. In fact, he says the dogs were “well cared for” and up-to-date on their vaccinations.

The two pit bulls weren’t the only dogs on the property. There were four other dogs in pens at the home as well. All six animals were removed by the Levy County Animal Control, McCallum says.

Many are working to help the family. The Dixie County chaplain and a victim’s advocate from the sheriff’s office is with the family as they cope with the young boy’s horrific death.

Dog attacks are happening frequently with children. Monday night another 6-year-old boy was attacked by two dogs at a friend’s birthday party he was attending. WGN-TV 9 reports that Armani McKinnis in Chicago was mauled by two unknown dogs that were walking down the street. One of them was a Rottweiler and the other a light-colored pit bull. He’s recovering from severe facial and leg injuries.

The Inquisitr has written a number of reports on dog attacks. In some cases, when a dog kills a boy or girl, the animal supposedly didn’t show signs of aggression before the attack.

[Image via MSN Images]