Latest news with #SalineCountySheriff'sOffice
International Business Times
16-06-2025
- International Business Times
Arkansas Teenage Girl Mauled to Death as She Tried to Help 'Starving' Pack of Dogs Neglected by Their Owners
An Arkansas teen was fatally mauled by a pack of dogs as she tried to feed the malnourished canines left in neglect by their owners. Makayla Fortner, 15, was killed in an enclosed area at a home in the community of Alexander, as she tried to care for around 30 starving dogs on Wednesday, June 11. Fortner Had Been Trying to Help the Pack of Dogs After Learning About Their State of Neglect, was Trying to Find Them Permanent Homes The teen and her mother, Stephanie Wilkie, was attempting to rescue the dogs after noticing their deteriorating condition, left to die by their owners. Fortner was also working to find them permanent homes, officials said. 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. With the assistance of Benton Animal Services, deputies seized multiple dogs from the property. Dogs were a Mix of Pitbulls, Pitbull Crossbreeds, and Hounds; 14 of Them Euthanized in the Wake of the Attack 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. For months, neighbors had complained about how out of control the problem with the pack of dogs had become — with many reporting to Saline County officials that they would sometimes run loose throughout the area. However, county officials had told upset residents on multiple occasions that there was nothing they could do. The Saline County Sheriff's Office is now investigating the incident with the assistance of Benton animal control. Fortner Remembered as 'The Kindest Soul' Fortner, a high schooler at Bryant Public Schools, is remembered as a "beautiful, bright girl with the kindest soul," a GoFundMe set up for the 15-year-old revealed. "Her smile could light up a room, and her laughter was the kind that made others feel instantly at ease," the fundraising page reads."She is deeply loved by her family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her."
Daily Mirror
14-06-2025
- 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
13-06-2025
- 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.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- 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
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Locals react after 15-year-old girl is killed in Saline County dog attack
SALINE COUNTY, Ark. — A 15-year-old girl was attacked and killed by multiple dogs Wednesday morning while assisting with the care of animals at a property reportedly housing more than 30 dogs. The girl was killed at a residence near the intersection of Barth and White Oak Streets, a home neighbors say had long been the subject of complaints and concerns. Saline County authorities investigating after 15-year-old girl killed in dog attack According to the Saline County Sheriff's Office, which arrived on scene around 12:15 pm, the girl, whose name has not been released, was helping feed and care for the dogs, who were being housed at the location as part of a rescue.' Something she had reportedly done often, when she was attacked in the front yard. The Saline County Sheriff's Office confirmed the animals involved in the attack have been seized with the help of Benton Animal Control. The neighborhood, already wary of the dogs, is now mourning what many describe as a preventable death. Residents say complaints about the animals, which included numerous mixed-breed dogs, date back months, if not years. 'These dogs were very vicious at the fence to the point that people didn't want to let their children walk to and from the bus stop,' said neighbor Heidi Clay. 'They looked hungry, full of fleas, malnourished. This is by far not a dog rescue.' Mother of 6-month-old girl killed in dog attack calls it a horrible but avoidable accident Clay, whose father lives nearby, described the property as a dog-hoarding situation, not a legitimate rescue operation. She also stated that the girl and her mother had been given permission to help care for the animals. 'This beautiful young girl lost her life because these people do not properly take care of their dogs,' Clay said. 'She wasn't trespassing. She was trying to help.' Neighbor Ralph Murphy said he returned home to find deputies on scene and described a chilling scene as authorities worked to secure the property. 'The sheriff's deputy came up to the fence and a whole bunch of dogs ran up to him. He fired two warning shots into the ground,' Murphy said. 'Then he walked about ten feet onto the property, shook his head and walked back out. I looked and saw a body on the ground.' Murphy, like Clay, says the community had repeatedly raised concerns with law enforcement about the aggressiveness of what he called 'the unrestrained dogs.' 'Saline County said there was nothing they could do. But it's clear there was something they could do, they're doing it now,' Murphy said. 'It's a shame that some tragedy has to happen before our government responds.' Residents estimate the number of dogs on the property may have exceeded 40, including puppies. Some neighbors said law enforcement had previously told them to shoot the dogs if they came onto private property. Saline County does not have a countywide animal control department. Little Rock woman severely injured after Fourth of July dog attack At this time, there has been no confirmation on whether the owners of the dogs will face criminal charges. Neighbors say they've reported past incidents of the dogs attacking other pets and threatening people in the area. 'Too little, too late?' Clay asked. 'Yes. She's gone. Someone should have stepped up and done something. It's unacceptable how this little girl lost her life.' The Saline County Sheriff's Office has not released further details pending an ongoing investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
