A 5-year-old boy whose home was destroyed by the tornado in Moore on May 20 has been killed by a family friend's dog.
CBS reported that the boy and his family were staying with friends in Jessieville, Arkansas after the tornado. According to a police report the child became upset over putting his shoes on and had a tantrum. A Bull Mastif came into the room owned by the people who lived by the house and mauled the boy while a family friend tried to calm him down. The woman said that she tried to pull the dog away from the child but she was unable to. She called to her husband and by the time she got there, she was able to pull them apart.
"The child was putting on some shoes and was crying and upset," Garland County Deputy Scott Hinojosa said according to The Huffington Post. "The dog possibly took that as being aggressive and at that time the child was attacked."
The husband took the child to Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"KATV reports the boy acted out against the female owner. The dog likely saw this as a threat and moved to protect its master," reported The Huffington Post.
The dog ran away from home after the incident occurred but police told KTHV that the dog was found and put down on Monday.
Bull Mastif's though large and powerful are not known to be aggressive. The Huffington Post reports that they are known as ideal family pets and companions. The American Kennel Club calls them "fearless and confident yet docile."
"A county law fines owners $500 if their pet attacks a person or another animal, KATV notes. A community meeting was scheduled for Monday to discuss whether to ban breeds or enact mandatory rules like neutering, micro-chipping and containment. There has been strong opposition against some of these measures," reported The Huffington Post.
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