SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Two babies are useless after being attacked by pit bulls within a Shelby County dwelling, in accordance with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).

The assault occurred round 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at a house on Sylvan Road close to Shelby Forest State Park.

The canines attacked a 2-year-old woman and a 5-month-old boy, SCSO mentioned.

The kids died on the scene.

The pit bulls additionally attacked the kids’s mom, who was rushed to Regional One in essential situation, SCSO mentioned.

The canines have been taken by Animal Control, the place they have been later euthanized by Memphis Animal Services.

As of Oct. 6 at 3:50 PM, the mom has been upgraded to secure situation, SCSO mentioned.

Animal shelter staff FOX13 spoke with mentioned that this tragic assault is a reminder that any animal can chew.

“It doesn’t matter if they are small dogs, large dogs. We say if a dog has teeth, they can bite,” Nina Wingfield, the director the Collierville Animal Shelter, mentioned.

Wingfield turned her love for animals right into a dwelling. But even she is aware of they’ll generally be harmful.

“If we feel like they could be a public safety issue and they are already showing signs of aggression, we may put them on a 48-hour hold, and we invite trainers to come in and maybe guide us in making the right euthanization decisions,” she mentioned.

While it’s nonetheless not clear what led to Wednesday’s assault, it’s shining mild on the significance of realizing the warning indicators of aggression in canines.

“Definitely snarling or growling, their bodies becoming stiff when something is coming to them, a wagging tail doesn’t always mean a friendly dog, so you have to be careful with that,” Wingfield mentioned.

If your canine is displaying indicators of aggression, Wingfield suggests hiring a canine coach. She additionally mentioned it’s essential for each member of a household to fulfill with a brand new pet earlier than adopting.

“That way we can rule out what dogs are fearful of the children or if the children are fearful of the dogs, and then we feel like we are making a good match,” she mentioned.

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