Latest news with #MakaylaFortner
Daily Mirror
12 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
21 hours 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
21 hours 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.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Pack of dogs kills 15-year-old Arkansas girl who was caring for them
A 15-year-old girl in Arkansas died Wednesday after a pack of dogs she was caring for attacked her, authorities said. The Saline County Sheriff's Office said it received a 911 call around 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday reporting that a girl had been attacked by dogs. When deputies and EMTs arrived at the scene, they found a 15-year-old who had been fatally attacked by dogs "within a secured, fenced area" on the property. Officials said about 30 dogs were being housed on the property as part of a makeshift animal rescue. "The victim has been previously assisting the rescue with the care of the animals and was helping to find them permanent homes," the sheriff's office said in a statement on social media. "The reason for the sudden and tragic attack is currently unknown." Officials did not name the victim but local outlet MySaline identified her as 15-year-old Makayla Fortner. The teen was remembered as a "beautiful, bright girl with the kindest soul," according to a GoFundMe set up to assist her mother. The sheriff's office said the city of Benton's animal control seized the dogs involved in the attack. The investigation remains ongoing. Officials said Thursday that 14 of the dogs involved were euthanized, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. "It's one of those horrible situations," Matt Thibault, a spokesman for Benton, told the newspaper. "This had all the best of intentions, and it turned into the worst nightmare for everybody involved." Neighbors told ABC affiliate KATV that they had complained multiple times to the county about the dogs, which they said were not controlled by their owners. "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, like you had to get out here to get your 15-year-old off the bus because of these dogs… they do not look well-cared for," Heidi Clay told the station. Neighbors believe the girl's death could have been prevented if the county had acted sooner. "And if somebody had done something, then maybe this little girl would be alive," Clay said. Video shows Air India plane crashing in Ahmedabad Air India plane crashes shortly after takeoff, carrying more than 240 people An accused woman skips her pedicure, kills her ex-husband
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
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.
