An 8-year-old boy, Michael Millett, tragically lost his life after being “maliciously mauled” by two loose dogs in a horrific attack near Deland, Florida. Michael was riding his bike Monday night when he stopped to pet the dogs, described as a pit bull terrier and a catahoula, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The encounter turned violent and the boy suffered twelve bites before nearby residents attempted CPR and called authorities. Despite their efforts, Michael succumbed to his injuries. “It goes from petting and a very friendly encounter to the dogs becoming very, very, very cruel and very violent,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told Spectrum News 13.
The dogs were captured and are currently in the custody of the county Animal Services agency. Sheriff Chitwood promised to hold the dogs’ owner accountable, stating, “We are going to do everything humanly possible to hold the owner of these dogs accountable, and we will do everything we can to make sure these dogs are destroyed.
“DNA samples have been taken from each of his 12 bite wounds, so we can conclusively say that these two dogs… are responsible for Michael’s death.” Authorities identified the dog’s owner as a 31-year-old woman with an extensive criminal record.
Sheriff Chitwood criticized the lack of action that led to the tragedy, noting, “These dogs have been terrorizing this neighborhood for a while and no one decided to call us.” Michael’s family is heartbroken. Jackie Hart, his great-aunt, said: “My great-nephew is gone.
We can’t get it back. (He’s) the kind of kid you want to give a hug because he’s so funny and loving and… and now he’s gone.” A GoFundMe page was created by a relative, Jackie Pasquale Hart, to help the family with medical and funeral expenses, as well as to support Michael’s parents, Tiffani and Michael, and their two other children during this difficult time.
The fundraiser has already raised £50,000 in donations. “Michael was incredibly smart, funny, caring, loving and very adventurous,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Michael’s infectious laugh and light will be sorely missed.”
Sheriff Chitwood expressed the community’s shared pain, saying, “I don’t know what anyone can say to ease the immense pain this family is feeling tonight. “This is a tragedy beyond comprehension, especially for those of us who are parents and grandparents.”