A young girl is dead in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after being viciously attacked by a pit bull while playing outside. The victim, 7-year-old Sadie Davila, died of her injuries at a hospital on Friday. The dog was allegedly left unleashed and had been wandering in the neighborhood unsupervised.
The dog's owner has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide for failing to confine or restrain the dog, allowing it to roam freely, according to WCTV.
The dog reportedly attacked Sadie while the little girl was visiting family.
The dog attack happened while the 7-year-old was visiting an unnamed relative. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office announced that deputies and members of the St. George Fire Department were dispatched to a home on January 6 after a report of a dog attacking a child. Sadly, her injuries were fatal.
"This is an awful, heart-breaking tragedy," Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said, according to WCTV. "My heart goes out to this family, and they will remain in my prayers."
Authorities quickly arrested the dog's owner.
Deputies arrested Erick Lopez on Saturday, citing negligence in containing the dog. The 20-year-old told authorities he was not home at the time of the attack. He lived about 150 yards from where Sadie was playing.
Lopez admitted that he did not have the dog on a leash, which broke parish law. He also did not restrain the dog, allowing it to roam the neighborhood. His bond was set at $7,500, according to WBRZ.
Family members tried to stop the attack.
A relative tried to stop the attack but could not get the dog off little Sadie, according to arrest records obtained by WBRZ. Emergency personnel rushed the girl to the hospital with multiple bites to her face and severe skull damage.
When animal control captured the dog, it reportedly had blood on its face and mouth. Investigators tested the dog's body for rabies after it had been euthanized, according to the news outlet. Results will be released after the analysis is complete.
The sadness that Sadie's death has caused is palpable.
Sadie's mother posted a tribute to her beautiful girl on Facebook. She included photos and video of the child, who appeared happy and adored.
"As most of you know, we lost our baby girl Sadie to a dog attack, yesterday. She was a lovely person and she was so loved by everyone she met," she wrote. "We can't begin to express our feelings of loss and devastation at this moment. Please keep our family in your prayer's and thank you for your love and support during this challenging time."
According to the East Baton Rouge Parish School District, Sadie was a first grader at Woodlawn Elementary School. In a statement released by the school district, Grace Feucht, Sadie's teacher, praised the girl. "She was a gift to me and made me smile and laugh many times," she noted via WCTV. "I sadly expect our classroom to feel considerably emptier Monday without her precious presence. I am so grateful to have had the honor of teaching her."
Dog attacks are not uncommon in the US.
The website DogsBite.org reported that 1,000 people in the US receive treatment for a serious dog bite injury daily. Among those, more than 12,000 patients end up hospitalized because of their injuries. An average hospitalization for a dog bite costs $18,000, which is 50% higher than the average injury-related stay.
Pit bulls and rottweilers are considered the most dangerous dog breeds and accounted for 76% of dog attack deaths in a 15-year study conducted from 2005 to 2019, according to DogsBite.org.
