Tragedy struck Volusia County yesterday when an 8-year-old boy was fatally mauled by two dogs, as reported by the Volusia Sheriff's Office. The incident occurred just before 5 p.m. near Arabesque Drive and Airport Road, north of DeLand. According to the WOKV, the boy succumbed to his injuries despite the efforts of witnesses who promptly called 911 and began CPR.
Both dogs involved in the attack, one a pit bull and the other a mixed breed, were chased down by deputies and subsequently captured by Volusia County Animal Control. They are currently held in quarantine as determined by official protocols. In the wake of this incident, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood expressed the community's heartbreak, "I don’t know what anyone can say to ease the immense pain this family is feeling tonight," he stated in a News-Journal Online article. "This is a tragedy beyond comprehension, especially for those of us who are parents and grandparents."
The sheriff's office has initiated a joint investigation to unearth the circumstances leading to the fatal attack. Additional details regarding this case, have yet to be released by authorities. Sheriff Chitwood has scheduled an initial briefing for today to provide insights following the preliminary results of the investigation. Chitwood's remarks mirror this sentiment, "I can only ask our community to say a prayer of strength for this family and keep them in your hearts as they face their worst nightmare," he conveyed in an interview with WFLA.
As the community awaits further details from today's briefing, the prayers and support for the bereaved family continue to pour in during what the sheriff describes as "their worst nightmare," according to both News-Journal Online and WFLA.
