The dogs had been with the family for eight years and had never been violent before
A five-month-old boy and his two-year-old sister have been mauled to death by the family’s pit bulls and their mother suffered horrific injuries trying to stop the attack.
Kirstie Jane Bennard is said to have been left with bite marks all over her body and face after fighting to free her children for up to 10 minutes, a relative of the 30-year-old has said.
Hollace Dean and his older sister, Lilly Jane, both died at the scene, by the family home in Shelby County, Tennessee.
The two dogs involved, Cheech and Mia, were put down. They were said to have been a part of the family for more than eight years without a violent incident.
“I can promise you those children were her (Kirstie’s) world, and if there was any inkling of danger, she would have never had those dogs near her kids,” Kirstie’s best friend, Kelsey Canfield, told Fox News Digital.
“Those children were everything to them, and they just have a really long journey ahead.”
Canfield added: “That attack lasted longer than any one of us could have ever imagined.”
The children’s dad, Colby Bennard, wasn’t home at the time of the incident. In a Facebook post, he had previously referred to the couple’s pets as “house lions.”
An update posted by Jeff Gibson, Colby’s uncle, reads: “As of yet there are no funeral arrangements for the kids.
“Kirstey is still in the hospital with an uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body including her face.
“Both arms and legs are bandaged/wrapped up completely. As of now it looks like there isn’t any permanent damage other than a heart that will never heal. Kirstey is a f*****g hero!”
Local police said the dogs attacked the children, and later their mother, around 3.30pm on Thursday.
“Shelby County Fire paramedics transported the mother in critical condition to Regional One Health. This remains an active investigation.”
SCSO detectives are on scene at the 700 block of Sylvan Road near Shelby Forest State Park, where at about 3:30 pm two family dogs attacked a 2-year-old girl, a 5-month-old boy, and their mother in the home. The children were pronounced deceased on the scene. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/2IzlBedyjs
— ShelbyTNSheriff (@ShelbyTNSheriff) October 6, 2022
Kirstie’s condition is said to have since stabilised.
In the wake of the tragedy, fake fundraisers were set up, trying to take advantage of the incident.
Gibson said: “Unfortunately not only are we having to deal with this tragic loss, we are also having to deal with the vultures that would make money off another person’s tragedy.”
A legitimate fundraiser has been set up by a family friend and endorsed by Gibson.
Organiser Debbie Harvey said: “The money will be given directly to them to use as they see fit in whatever they need.
Please find it in your heart to donate if you feel led. And always continue to pray for them daily to make it through this unbelievable tragedy for the family. They are so loved in this community and we need to step up to support them.”
Related links:
- Gran killed in Liverpool dog attack by five ‘out-of-control’ bulldogs pictured for the first time
- Dogs can detect human distress with nearly 94% accuracy, study shows
- Golden retriever is so stressed it needs an emotional support kitten to help with anxiety
