California family’s Rottweilers kill 5-year-old girl
A 5-year-old girl was killed by two of her family’s dogs and another person was injured in California on Sunday, according to local media.
The dogs are a 10-year-old Rottweiler and a 6-year-old Rottweiler mix, reported television station WLS-TV and the Associated Press.
The incident happened around 12:05 p.m. Sunday in Covina, part of Los Angeles County, Luis Garcia, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, confirmed to USA TODAY Monday afternoon.
The victim who died was a 5-year-old girl who had grown up around the dogs, Lt. Steve De Jong of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to USA TODAY Monday afternoon.
She was in the backyard spending time with her father when the attack occurred. Someone then made a “vicious animal call” to 911 as the family tried to help the girl, De Jong said.
Emergency responders arrived by 12:15 p.m. and took two patients to the hospital. The girl later died from her injuries, according to the fire department.
‘The child has had contact with the dogs her entire life’
According to De Jong, there were four dogs in the home altogether but only two were involved in the attack. There had been no prior incidents with the dogs, he told USA TODAY.
“The dogs were described as family pets,” De Jong said. “The child has had contact with the dogs her entire life.”
He added that authorities do not suspect any foul play and he does not anticipate anyone facing charges in the matter.
“The family has been 100% cooperative and her father is devastated by what occurred,” De Jong said. “It’s just a very, very tragic incident.”
Dogs taken into custody by animal control
All four dogs in the home were taken into custody by animal control, including the two involved in the attack, De Jong and the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control confirmed Monday afternoon.
“All four dogs have been impounded at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center,” wrote Animal Control Manager Christopher Valles in an email. “The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is currently conducting an investigation into the matter.”
De Jong said the sheriff’s department will work alongside Animal Control. Animal Control will likely wait for the sheriff’s department to conduct their investigation and then complete theirs.
“(Animal Control) will ultimately make the determination on the fate of the animals,” De Jong said.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].
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