Latest news with #BentonAnimalServices
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Girl, 15, mauled to death by pack of rescue dogs while attempting to feed them
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Makayla Fortner, 15, was mauled to death by the pack of around 40 dogs, including pit bulls, as she tried to feed the neglected animals A teenage girl was tragically killed while attempting to feed about 30 to 40 neglected rescue dogs. The dogs were being held at an enclosed on a property in Alexander, Arkansas when the Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the scene of the horrific attack at around 12:15pm on Wednesday. Upon arrival officers found 15 year old Makayla Fortner lifeless. Ralph Murphy, a neighbour, witnessed the first officer on the scene firing his pistol several times to drive the dogs back from the fence. "I watched a Saline County deputy come out and go up to the fence, and a bunch of dogs ran up to the fence," Murphy remarked. "He pulled out his pistol and shot into the ground twice, and the dogs ran. Then he walked over and looked down and turned around and walked back. Then I moved and saw a body on the ground," he shared. Benton Animal Services spokesperson Matt Thibault conveyed that the dogs in question included pit bulls, their crossbreeds, and hounds. Following the tragedy, officials told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that 14 of the dogs were put down, whilst four other dogs which were inside the house at the time of the incident were spared. Local residents had voiced their increasing apprehension due to the issue with the roaming pack of dogs, regularly lodging complaints to officials in Saline County about the dogs being let loose in the neighbourhood, reports the Mirror US. Despite their grievances, county officials have consistently told exasperated locals that their hands are tied when it comes to tackling the issue. One resident labelled the dogs as so "vicious" that "no one felt safe allowing their children to walk to and from the bus stop. "When they moved in, all the neighbours were very upset. They moved in with a huge amount of dogs and a large amount of broken vehicles," Heidi Clay remarked. She continued: "This was a beautiful young girl who lost her life because these people did not properly take care of their dogs and have a hoarding issue." In the days leading up to the tragic incident, Wilkie posted on Facebook about her and her daughter's efforts to look after over 40 puppies at an elderly couple's home. On June 8 she shared: "As usual, I found myself in a hoarding situation involving an older couple in their 80s who had too many dogs," highlighting that there were "puppies everywhere, more than 40, with a new litter born today." A friend of the victim's mum, Stephanie Wilkie, set up a GoFundMe page to aid the family and contribute towards funeral costs. "On behalf of my dear friend Stephanie Wilkie, I am heartbroken to share the devastating news that her beloved 15-year-old daughter, Makayla Fortner, tragically passed away following a horrific dog attack," organiser Erin Bowman wrote on the page.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Teen girl killed by pack of neglected dogs as she tried to help them, neighbors say
A teenage girl was killed in a 'horrific' attack by a pack of neglected dogs she had been caring for, authorities say. Makayla Fortner, 15, was mauled to death 'by multiple dogs' in an enclosed area at a home in the community of Alexander, Arkansas. Around 30 rescues lived on the property. Deputies from the Saline County Sheriff's Office said they were alerted to the attack around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday and arrived to find the teen already dead.n Fortne had previously been helping to care for the animals as well as working to find them permanent homes, officials said. With the assistance of Benton Animal Services, deputies seized multiple dogs from the property. The dogs were a mix of pit bulls, pit bull crossbreeds, and hounds, Benton Animal Services spokesperson Matt Thibault told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Officials told the newspaper that 14 dogs were euthanized in the wake of the incident. Investigators said they are looking into how the 'sudden and tragic' attack unfolded. Neighbors told ABC affiliate KATV said Fortner was attempting to feed the dogs before the deadly attack. Ralph Murphy said that he witnessed a deputy fire two shots from a pistol to disperse some of the animals as he headed towards the victim. 'And then he walked over and looked down and turned around and walked back, and so I moved and I saw a body on the ground,' he said. A friend of the victim's mother, Stephanie Wilkie, launched a GoFundMe page to support the family and help cover funeral expenses. 'On behalf of my dear friend Stephanie Wilkie, I am heartbroken to share the devastating news that her beloved 15-year-old daughter, Makayla Fortner, tragically passed away following a horrific dog attack,' organizer Erin Bowman wrote. 'This unimaginable loss has left her family in deep shock, grief, and emotional pain.' Bowman described Fortner as 'a beautiful, bright girl with the kindest soul who had so much life ahead of her.' Just days before the attack, Wilkie posted on Facebook that she and her daughter were looking after a litter of more than 40 puppies at the home of an elderly couple. 'So like normal, found myself in a hoarding situation of an older couple in their 80s with too many dogs,' she wrote on June 8, adding that there are 'puppies everywhere, 40+ and a litter born today.' Neighbors said that they have complained multiple times about the dogs being uncontrolled and running away from the property. '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,' White Oak Drive resident Heidi Clay said. "And if somebody had done something, then maybe this little girl would be alive.'
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Teen girl killed by pack of neglected dogs as she tried to help them, neighbors say
A teenage girl was killed in a 'horrific' attack by a pack of neglected dogs she had been caring for, authorities say. Makayla Fortner, 15, was mauled to death 'by multiple dogs' in an enclosed area at a home in the community of Alexander, Arkansas. Around 30 rescues lived on the property. Deputies from the Saline County Sheriff's Office said they were alerted to the attack around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday and arrived to find the teen already dead.n Fortne had previously been helping to care for the animals as well as working to find them permanent homes, officials said. With the assistance of Benton Animal Services, deputies seized multiple dogs from the property. The dogs were a mix of pit bulls, pit bull crossbreeds, and hounds, Benton Animal Services spokesperson Matt Thibault told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Officials told the newspaper that 14 dogs were euthanized in the wake of the incident. Investigators said they are looking into how the 'sudden and tragic' attack unfolded. Neighbors told ABC affiliate KATV said Fortner was attempting to feed the dogs before the deadly attack. Ralph Murphy said that he witnessed a deputy fire two shots from a pistol to disperse some of the animals as he headed towards the victim. 'And then he walked over and looked down and turned around and walked back, and so I moved and I saw a body on the ground,' he said. A friend of the victim's mother, Stephanie Wilkie, launched a GoFundMe page to support the family and help cover funeral expenses. 'On behalf of my dear friend Stephanie Wilkie, I am heartbroken to share the devastating news that her beloved 15-year-old daughter, Makayla Fortner, tragically passed away following a horrific dog attack,' organizer Erin Bowman wrote. 'This unimaginable loss has left her family in deep shock, grief, and emotional pain.' Bowman described Fortner as 'a beautiful, bright girl with the kindest soul who had so much life ahead of her.' Just days before the attack, Wilkie posted on Facebook that she and her daughter were looking after a litter of more than 40 puppies at the home of an elderly couple. 'So like normal, found myself in a hoarding situation of an older couple in their 80s with too many dogs,' she wrote on June 8, adding that there are 'puppies everywhere, 40+ and a litter born today.' Neighbors said that they have complained multiple times about the dogs being uncontrolled and running away from the property. '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,' White Oak Drive resident Heidi Clay said. "And if somebody had done something, then maybe this little girl would be alive.'
