Latest news with #StephanieWilkie
Daily Mirror
13 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.
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.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Teen killed in horrifying attack while trying to feed pack of malnourished dogs
A teenage girl in Arkansas was killed in a horrifying attack while she and her mother were trying to take care of 30 to 40 malnourished dogs who 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 noon on Wednesday, KATV reports. Neighbors said the teenager was trying to feed the malnourished dogs when they suddenly attacked her. Fortner and her mother, Stephanie Wilkie, had recently stepped in to help take care of the dogs after noticing their deplorable conditions. The teen was even trying to find permanent homes for the pack of dogs, whom neighbors said were not controlled by their owners and sometimes ran loose through the neighborhood, according to My Saline. Neighbor added that they had complained to Saline County officials about the animals multiple times in the past. 'When they moved in, all the neighbors were very upset,' Heidi Clay recounted of the pet owners. '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 continued. 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. '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,' Ralph Murphy said. But following the mauling 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. Murphy, though, says he wishes something had been done sooner. 'It's just too late,' he lamented. '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 Fortner's family has garnered more than $17,000. They were even trying to find permanent homes for the animals It describes 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.
