Dogs expected to be euthanized following deadly attack on child
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood pledged to hold them accountable following the tragedy.
DELAND, Fla. – The two dogs who brutally mauled and killed an 8-year-old boy in a Central Florida neighborhood earlier this month will be euthanized on Thursday, according to a Volusia County spokesperson.
What they’re saying:
“The state-mandated 10-business-day period for the owner to appeal or relinquish ownership of the two dogs involved in the fatal attack on an 8-year-old child in Volusia County has expired,” Volusia County spokesperson, Clayton Jackson, said in a statement to FOX 35. “With no appeal filed or ownership relinquished, Volusia County Animal Services will proceed with the euthanasia of the dogs today.”
Volusia County officials said two loose dogs are responsible for mauling an 8-year-old boy to death in a neighborhood near DeLand, Florida.
The backstory:
On Jan. 13, Michael Millett was riding bikes with his friends in a neighborhood near Arabesque Drive and Airport Road, when they stopped at the mailboxes near the front entrance of the subdivision to pet the two loose dogs.
One of the dogs was believed to be a pit bull and the other a mixed breed.
Photo of Michael Millett (Credit: Family handout)
It was at that moment that Michael was brutally attacked by the dogs, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood previously said during a news conference. The sheriff noted there was no indication the dogs were going to attack.
Authorities said Michael’s mother jumped on top of her son to shield him from the attack, but he ultimately died of his injuries. He sustained 12 bite wounds and suffered a broken neck and leg, authorities said.
Michael’s mother told FOX 35 News that the image of seeing her son being mauled would never leave her mind.
Who owns the dogs?
Authorities said the owner of the dogs is a 31-year-old woman. She has an extensive criminal history, primarily related to drugs, according to the sheriff. FOX 35 News is choosing not to identify the woman, as she has not been charged.
RELATED: Mother of boy killed by dogs says she’ll never forget the image of her son being mauled
Chitwood emphasized the woman would be held accountable.
“We are going to do everything humanly possible to hold the owner of these dogs responsible,” Chitwood said. “And we’re going to do everything possible to make sure that these animals are destroyed.”
Did the dogs have a history of violence?
Law enforcement officers who went door-to-door after the deadly attack heard “horrific stories” from neighbors about how the dogs are frequently running loose and have destroyed chickens.
Officials also discovered that the dogs may have been involved in a previous incident in another county. Chitwood stated that the sheriff’s office is following up on that report.
Officials said the dogs were never reported to animal services.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared previously by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and a Volusia County spokesperson.
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