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Family dog kills Phoenix toddler
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A 4-year-old girl died Monday night after being mauled by her family’s dog in north Phoenix, said Maricopa County Sheriff’s officials.
The girl, Tori Whitehurst , was flown to a Valley hospital but could not be revived.
The attack happened just before 4 p.m. at the family’s home at 512 W. Yearling Rd., near Interstate 17 and Happy Valley Road.
Dani During , a friend who was speaking on behalf of the family, said the girl and her 6-year-old sister had been playing in the backyard with four dogs at the time. A live-in nanny was watching the girls but went in the house briefly to retrieve something.
When the American Bulldog started nipping at Tori, her sister ran to get the nanny, During said.
The nanny came out to find the dog had grabbed Tori by the throat, sheriff’s officials said. The nanny tried hitting the dog with various objects, including a pool skimmer, but when it didn’t let the girl go, the nanny called 911.
The dog may have grabbed the girl because it was jealous of the other dogs or because of the barrettes she wore in her hair, During said.
Deputies arrived to find the dog laying next to Tori, sheriff’s officials said. When the dog started advancing toward deputies, they Tased it, then shot it five times, killing it.
The attack was at least the sixth in the Valley this year.
In April, two pitbulls attacked a 12-year-old boy in Tempe.
The boy survived after neighbors fought off the dogs using broomsticks, among other objects.
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