Pit bull supporters say deadly attack on girl in Visalia was 'an anomaly'

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The 4-year-old unfortunate of a deadly canine onslaught successful Visalia has been identified arsenic Zoey Hawkins, according to the family.

Visalia Police accidental the small miss was attacked by their household pit bull conscionable aft 8 p.m. Wednesday night, connected West Monte Vista Avenue successful Visalia -a nighttime that started guiltless and quiescent for her family.

"The 4-year-old had conscionable finished swimming and was wrong the location erstwhile the incidental occurred. Despite contiguous aesculapian attraction and being transported to the hospital, she sadly passed away," said Liz Jones, nationalist accusation serviceman for Visalia Police and Fire.

Jones says constabulary detectives discovered nary signs of neglect oregon transgression enactment astatine the location wherever officers responded. They accidental it was conscionable an unexpected and devastating incident.

"It was the household dog. And it did not person immoderate convulsive behaviour oregon immoderate convulsive attacks anterior to this," said Jones.

According to Jones, the canine was euthanized astatine the petition of young Zoey's family.

Police could not elaborate connected what precisely led up to the incident, but the Fresno Bully Rescue, which specializes successful uncovering homes for pit bulls and different "bully breeds", says without the facts, nary blasted tin beryllium enactment connected the family.

However, they adhd this is conscionable 1 achy illustration of wherefore canine owners should always watch their canine astir immoderate tiny child.

"It perfectly tin hap with immoderate canine and immoderate young child," said Becky Holly, a subordinate of the committee of directors for the Fresno Bully Rescue. "Family dog, you emotion the dog, it's determination each the time, you presume it's safe, but it's inactive a dog. So, I deliberation supervision astir young children is incredibly important."

Holly says owners should besides ticker for signs of accent successful a dog. Those see over-excitement, a stiff body, the whites of the eyes showing, oregon panting erstwhile temperatures are cool.

Under the Visalia Police Facebook station announcing the fatal attack, galore comments tin beryllium seen criticizing pit bulls and those who ain them. Holly says they're not immoderate much unsafe than immoderate different dog.

"This is an anomaly. It's not the rule. These dogs are strong. They're not for everyone and I suggest grooming for everyone," she said. "But immoderate ample dog, adjacent a medium-sized canine is susceptible of doing immoderate harm to a four-year-old kid oregon immoderate tiny child."

To donate to the household of 4-year-old Zoey Hawkins to assistance with ceremonial expenses, click here.

For much resources connected canine information astir children, including "bully breeds", and the Fresno Bully Rescue sojourn the Fresno Bully Rescue website.