An 8-year-old boy has tragically died after he was “maliciously mauled” by two loose dogs in a terrifying attack.
Michael Millett, who was riding his bike, had stopped to pet the loose dogs when he was violently attacked on Monday evening near Deland, Florida, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The boy was bitten twelve times by two dogs, identified as a Pit Bull Terrier and a Catahoula. Nearby residents administered CPR to the boy and called police, but they were unable to save him. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said: “It goes from petting, and a very friendly encounter, to the dogs becoming very, very, very vicious and very violent.
“We are going to do everything humanly possible to hold the owner of these dogs responsible, and we are going to do everything possible to make sure that these dogs are destroyed. Every one of his 12 bite wounds have been swabbed for DNA so we can conclusively say that these two dogs that they have in custody are the dogs responsible for Michael’s death.”
The dogs were captured and were being held by the county’s Animal Services agency. Authorities said the owner of the dogs is a 31-year-old woman. She has an extensive criminal history, according to police.
“My great nephew is gone. We can’t get him back,” said Jackie Hart. “[He’s] just the kind of kid you want to give a hug to because he’s so funny and caring and… and now he’s gone.”
A heartbreaking GoFundMe page was set-up by relative Jackie Pasqualle Hart, who wrote: “On Monday, January 13, 2025, my niece Tiffani and her husband, Michael, lost their son, Michael in a tragic accident. Michael succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by 2 dogs in their neighborhood. Our family is devastated with the loss of Michael. He was incredibly smart, funny, caring, loving, and so adventurous. Michael’s contagious laugh and light will be missed tremendously.
“We have set up this Go Fund Me to help with the funeral expenses, medical expenses and additional expenses with missed time off at work. Tiffani and Michael have two other children and need time to spend with them during this difficult time.” £50,000 has already been raised so far following the tragic incident.
“I don’t know what anyone can say to ease the immense pain this family is feeling tonight,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “This is a tragedy beyond comprehension, especially for those of us who are parents and grandparents.”
Get email updates with the day’s biggest stories
