Good Samaritan teen girl mauled to death trying to feed pack of dogs left to starve at neighbor's property
A teen girl in Arkansas was killed in a horrifying attack by a pack of malnourished dogs she was trying to feed after they were left to starve at a nearby property.
Makayla Fortner, 15, was found dead at a home on White Oak Drive in Alexander shortly after 12pm on Wednesday, and was trying to feed the malnourished dogs when they suddenly attacked her.
Makayla and her mother Stephanie Wilkie had recently stepped in to help take care of the animals after noticing their neglected condition.
The teen was even trying to find permanent homes for the dogs, whom neighbors said were not controlled by their owners and sometimes ran loose through the neighborhood.
Locals added they had complained to Saline County officials about the animals multiple times.
Resident Heidi Clay said: 'When they moved in, all the neighbors were very upset. They moved in with a huge amount of dogs and a large amount of broken vehicles.
'These dogs were very vicious at the fence, to the point that no one wanted to let their children walk to and from the bus stop.'
She and other residents also told the local news station that county officials had told them on multiple occasions that they could not do anything about the unruly animals.
Local Ralph Murphy said: 'I had called Saline County and they sent a deputy and said that there's not any animal control in the county and there's nothing that they can do.'
But following the attack, Benton City officials said all 14 dogs seized from the property have been euthanized.
Only four dogs that were locked inside the house were left on the property. But Murphy said he wished something had been done sooner.
He said: 'It's just too late. So I think our government failed us. And if somebody had done something, then maybe this little girl would be alive.'
The Saline County Sheriff's Office is now investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, an online fundraiser set up to help Makayla's family has collected more than $17,000.
Help: Makayla Fortner and her mother stepped in to help take care of the dogs after noticing their deplorable conditions
Mission: They were even trying to find permanent homes for the animals
It described the teenager as a 'beautiful, bright girl with the kindest soul who had so much life ahead of her.
'Her smile could light up a room and her laughter was the kind that made others feel instantly at ease.'
Fortner was also 'deeply loved by her family, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.'
All of the money collected from the fundraiser will go toward funeral expenses, grief counseling for Fortner's family and support for them.
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