5-Year-Old Girl Mauled to Death by Family Dogs
(Image: ABC7)
A California family is mourning the tragic death of a young girl after two family Rottweilers attacked her on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred at a gated community on Palomino Drive in Covina, Los Angeles County, prompting an immediate response from sheriff’s deputies.
According to ABC affiliate KABC, deputies discovered that the child had been attacked in the backyard by a 10-year-old Rottweiler and a 6-year-old Rottweiler mix. Emergency services rushed the girl to a nearby hospital, but she was pronounced dead at 1:23 p.m.
Authorities reported that the two dogs, along with two additional animals, were removed from the home as a precaution. Investigators learned that the girl had lived with the dogs for her entire life without prior incidents. Only one other family member had ever reported being injured by the animals.
While no foul play is suspected, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the incident remains under investigation. The devastating loss comes just days after another family pet was killed in a separate incident in Georgia, highlighting further grief surrounding family dogs.
Justin Carr of Georgia told Fox 5 Atlanta that his family’s beloved dog, Zeta, was fatally shot by police officers responding to a 911 call on Monday night. The officers claimed Zeta ran toward them as they searched for a person in distress near the Carr family’s home.
Cobb County police issued a statement explaining the officer’s actions: “The officer perceived the animal as potentially threatening and, in an effort to protect himself, discharged his service weapon, resulting in the dog being fatally wounded.”
Carr, however, rejected the characterization of Zeta as a threat, insisting the dog had grown up around three small children and never displayed aggression. “Tonight, Cobb County police came to my house for a ‘noise complaint’ after we just got back from eating dinner, then proceeded to shoot and kill our beloved Zeta.
She was the sweetest dog we’ve ever owned,” Carr said in a Facebook post. Carr further argued that the 911 call could not have originated from their home as his family was out at the time. He described the incident as “senseless and avoidable” and vowed to seek justice for Zeta.
Cobb County police acknowledged the shooting’s impact and confirmed an internal review is underway, though they were unable to locate the source of the initial distress call. Both incidents underscore the heartbreaking complexities surrounding family pets, safety, and tragic outcomes, leaving grieving families searching for answers and accountability.
