A Detroit man, the father of six children, succumbed to injuries after being horrifically mauled by a trio of canines. Harold Phillips, who was attacked near his home on the city's west side, fought for his life for four days before passing away, according to a FOX 2 report.
The 52-year-old had been on life support following the attack on January 29, that left him with severe bites all over his body. Phillips' condition worsened to the point where doctors were forced to amputate his arm, the family revealed to CBS Detroit. The dogs, who were later euthanized, escaped from a backyard and ferociously attacked Phillips, leaving him grievously wounded and eventually leading to his organs shutting down.
Phillips' wife, Shauntaye, turned to GoFundMe to raise funds for medical and funeral expenses. Following her husband's demise, she shared a heartfelt message on the crowdfunding platform. "It's with my deepest regret to inform you that Harold has passed away this evening," Shauntaye posted, "I appreciate every prayer donation and message. Thank you all for the love and care you've shown my husband. My children and I are forever grateful," FOX 2 reported. At the time of Phillips' passing, the family had raised over $30,000.
The pet owner responsible for the dogs, Roy Goodman, admitted his dogs had a prior history of aggression, including an incident that involved a child, according to an interview with Hoodline. "Nothing I can do can make this right but if there's anything I can do, I will," Goodman expressed, showing remorse for the tragedy that befell the Phillips family. He faced citations for multiple ordinance violations in the aftermath of the fatal attack.
City officials pointed to this incident as preventable, noting that the dogs' owner failed to properly secure the animals and did not comply with city ordinances. In response, the Phillips family has initiated legal action against both the city of Detroit and Goodman, as reported by CBS Detroit. This grave event underscores the critical importance of responsible pet ownership and adherence to local safety regulations to prevent such tragedies.
