In a heartbreaking incident, a 15-year-old girl was fatally mauled earlier this week. Makayla Fortner of Alexander, Arkansas, was killed by a neglected pack of 30-40 dogs when she was attempting to feed them and take care of them.
Makayla was with her mother, Stephanie Wilkie when this tragedy struck. The pair were trying to rescue the emaciated animals. She was well-known in her neighborhood for her compassion, kindness, and empathy. However, her mission to help animals ended in tragedy.
Makayla was a high-school student at Bryant Public Schools. She was a bright, loving, and generous soul who was loved by her family and friends. There was a local GoFundMe page that was set up after the incident. It remembers her as having the “kindest soul” whose “smile could light up a room.”
When Fortners visited the property on White Oak Drive, they found several dogs there in desperate conditions. They had taken it upon themselves to take off these dogs.
A GoFundMe has identified 15-year-old Makayla Fortner as the victim in Wednesday’s deadly dog attack. It was created by Erin Bowman, who says she is a friend of Fortner’s mother.https://t.co/TdlOPIezM6
— KATV News (@KATVNews) June 12, 2025
Neighbors report that the dogs were being hoarded there. Dogs often ran loose in the area and posed a danger to local children. Over time, their condition worsened significantly.
On the day of the accident, Makayla and her mother were feeding the animals. Suddenly, there was a lot of noise, along with a violent attack. Responding deputies arrived at the scene shortly after noon.
Neighbor Ralph Murphy gave the first-hand account. He described hearing gunshots as the first deputy tried to disperse the aggressive dogs. He confirmed that deputies fired into the ground. It was then that Murphy saw Makayla’s body on the ground, surrounded by the pack.
A 15-year-old Saline County girl was killed by a pack of dogs near Alexander on Wednesday. Deputies and emergency medical personnel responded immediately to the scene where they found her deceased.
FULL STORY: https://t.co/fHLwGCU9Xo pic.twitter.com/3CdzXhmKdG
— KATV News (@KATVNews) June 12, 2025
This tragedy has sparked outrage among neighbors who say they have repeatedly complained about the situation. They said that everyone had warned county authorities about the unruly and dangerous animals. There are reports where residents told officials that the unrestrained pack sometimes occupied school bus routes. It makes it difficult for children to even walk home.
However, people living in the area were informed by the authorities that they can’t do anything without any intervention from the animal control department.
Local resident Heidi Clay recalled that parents were scared and reluctant to let their kids walk near the property. She poignantly stated, “This is a beautiful young girl who lost her life because these people did not properly take care of their dogs and have a hoarding issue.”
After this incident, Benton City Animal Control seized 14 of the dogs and euthanized them. They cited concerns over their aggression and health. The remaining dogs that were confined inside the home during the attack were also taken into custody.
No winners in this story. Horrible dog abusers move in and a girl and her mother try to feed the dogs and find them homes. The abused dogs maul the girl to death, and then the dogs are all killed.https://t.co/FF4heSEFb7 pic.twitter.com/B2hflJbM8I
— LoveHerMadly (@Xlovehermadly) June 13, 2025
The Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Benton Animal Control have now launched a full investigation into the incident. Officials are reviewing whether existing protocols should have been activated earlier to prevent such a tragedy.
This case shows the crucial gap in rural animal welfare infrastructure. Due to the lack of accessible animal control, residents are left vulnerable, and rescue attempts can turn into catastrophes.
