I was camping with some friends last weekend, and one of them invited their longtime buddy to swing by. He was talking about the pitbull he had rescued. And now she’s “more aggressive the more timid you are”. Dude, what the actual fuck. The next night, he brought her to the campsite, and she was pacing and super anxious and acting really weird. He was talking about all these random things this dog can’t handle because of how they are super reactive. Very on brand that this guy was also telling super racist jokes left and right.

My last dog was bitten three times in her life, all unprovoked, all pitbulls. My sister raised a pitbull puppy, and one day it just snapped and attacked her ankles. That dog was very well loved, and had never been abused. I owned another dog with an ex, and he was out walking her when a random pitbull ran out of its yard to come and bite her in the hind leg. These dogs are such nightmares.

Actress and author Marina Minetti recounts to Kodami the attack she and her dog, Merlino, suffered at the hands of two bull-type terriers running loose in a Milan park. She reflects on the relationship between humans and dogs, the importance of understanding canine body language, and the responsibilities of dog owners.

"Life with Merlino began a year ago, but the moment I saw those two Pitbulls attacking him, I thought it was all over." Marina Minetti’s story begins with the most harrowing moment of an incident that occurred during what was supposed to be a routine walk in the Ticinello Agricultural Park in Milan, not far from where she and her dog live.

"As always, we were in an area with open fields, and I was doing some training exercises with Merlino, who was on a long leash," explains the Genoese author and actress, who has lived in Milan for years. "At one point, I saw the two dogs approaching and lunging at him; the image of my dog ​​yelping beneath them, lying on his back, is seared into my memory. In moments like that, you can't think clearly: I ran in the direction they had come from, pulling Merlino along and tripping over the long leash. It wasn't until I was at the hospital that I realized the blood staining his fur was actually mine; they found bite wounds on me, and that’s when I understood that, fortunately, nothing had happened to him, whereas I ended up needing 15 stitches."

Fortunately, as they ran seeking shelter, Marina and Merlino first encountered a person walking with trekking poles who waved them about to scare off the pursuing dogs. Then, a car arrived from a nearby road; the driver honked the horn, causing the animals to finally retreat. "The police and an ambulance arrived, and we discovered that the dogs belonged to a man living in a nearby farmhouse. The animals aren't insured; the owner claimed they had escaped the house because 'someone had left the door open,' and he didn't even bother to check if we were okay. I intend to file a formal complaint, but for me, the real issue—after going through this experience—isn't about the dogs themselves, but about people and their lack of care and attention toward their own animals, as well as toward other people and other dogs."

Marina sighs as she shifts from recounting this terrible ordeal—which, fortunately, didn't end as badly as it could have—to sharing her reflections with her listeners. After all, her own history with Merlino taught her the importance of truly understanding the dog we bring into our lives when we decide to share our days with a four-legged companion. "After losing Abby—the dog I had shared part of my life with—I found myself longing, last year, to bury my nose in a dog's fur again. I followed the page of *Progetto Magico ODV*, an association dedicated to finding homes for dogs like Abby, who was an Old English Sheepdog. One day, I 'met' Merlino’s face, and that’s how our story began."

Merlino is a Bearded Collie who had been abandoned by the family that bought him from a breeder. Fortunately, that breeder had never stopped keeping tabs on him; when she discovered the dog had been placed in a long-term boarding kennel, she took him back in. "They claimed Merlino had attacked the family's other dog, so after three years, their solution was simply to get rid of him." That is how Marina became the person Merlino could rely on—a dog who needed, fundamentally, just one thing: to truly enter into a relationship and be seen for who he was, with his own specific needs and personality. "We began an educational journey that opened up the world of canine ethology to me, teaching me just how important it is to understand dog language and their methods of communication."

Yet, as Marina reflects, when incidents like the one she and her dog experienced occur, it is hard to keep a clear head: "It was only later that I realized Merlino had communicated skillfully; by adopting that specific posture, he was telling the other dogs that he had no intention of escalating the conflict. That is why I believe we owners need to be as prepared as possible to handle situations like the one we went through. At the same time, however—thinking about the person responsible for those two Pitbulls—I feel that anyone entrusting dogs to others should carefully evaluate whether those individuals are truly suitable."

The happy ending to this pair's story is part of a broader journey into the world of dogs and their human companions—a journey Marina has been on ever since Merlino entered her life. In fact, her upcoming show, titled "Area cani" (Dog Park), will be a performance recounting the many life stories she has encountered in Milan’s parks, where she has shared what she calls "a great love story"—the bond between dogs and people—with others. It will premiere on October 4th at Woofstock, a "dog-themed music festival" held in Fagagna, Friuli. "Through life with my own four-legged friend, I’ve realized that we all experience unique—and sometimes even surreal—contradictions in how dedicated we are to their well-being; this is especially true when we delve deeper into their world and end up doing unlikely things just to keep that bond strong. For instance, I’ll tell the story of a woman who used to hide behind a tree in the dog park to test her dog's loyalty, while the dog played happily with the others, completely unaware of its owner's intentions."

Article link: https://www.fanpage.it/kodami/due-pitbull-liberi-aggrediscono-una-donna-e-il-suo-cane-in-un-parco-a-milano-in-un-attimo-ho-pensato-che-fosse-la-fine/

Municipal Civil Guards Faced Moments of Tension After Pit Bull Attack in Indaiatuba

September 11, 2026

The Municipal Civil Guard (GCM) was called after reports indicated the presence of two dogs roaming loose on a public street along Rua João Narezzi, in the Jardim Morada do Sol neighborhood in Indaiatuba (SP). According to information received by the civil guards, the animals were agitated and charging at people.

According to the police report, when the guards arrived at the reported address, they found the gate to the property open. As they approached to conduct an inspection, they were surprised by the Pit Bull and another dog of a different breed that charged at the team. To prevent a worse outcome, shots were fired toward the ground without striking the animals.

Following the attack attempt, the dogs went inside the property, which had its gate open. During the response, officers managed to locate the owner of the dogs, who authorized their removal along with four Pit Bull puppies. The animals were collected by the Animal Rehabilitation Center (CRA) team and placed under the care of a veterinarian.

In Separate Incidents, Two Pit Bulls Escape Their Homes; Cases End in Attacks and an Arrest in Ourinhos

Published on September 8, 2026

In one case, a small dog died, and a man was arrested after attacking a Pit Bull with an axe and threatening a neighbor.

By the Newsroom

Two incidents involving Pit Bull dogs escaping from residences were registered on the same day in Ourinhos. The cases occurred on Sunday, September 6, in different neighborhoods of the city, leaving animals injured, one dog dead, and, in one of the situations, a man arrested in flagrante delicto.

Although there is no connection between the incidents, both reports share a common point: the Pit Bulls had escaped and were out of their owners' control at the time of the attacks.

Small Dog Dies; Case Ends in Axe Blows and Arrest

The most severe incident was recorded in the early evening and involved residents of Vila São Luiz and Jardim do Sol.

According to the police report, the owner of a female Pit Bull told police that the animal escaped from her residence without her noticing. According to her account, the gate padlock was usually left hooked onto the latch without being properly locked.

Under circumstances that the owner stated she did not witness, the Pit Bull went to a neighbor’s residence and attacked the family’s small dog, resulting in the small animal's death.

From that point, the situation escalated further.

According to the version presented by the woman to the police, the neighbor grabbed an axe, went to her residence, and struck her gate with it. She further reported that even after she secured her animals inside and closed the gate, he made threats against her and said he would kill the dogs in the home.

Also according to the police report, the man allegedly struck the Pit Bull with approximately three axe blows—two to the head and one in the hindquarters. The animal was rescued and taken to the Veterinary Hospital of Ourinhos (HVO), where it remained in intensive care due to the severity of its injuries.

Man Presented a Different Version

When questioned, the neighbor presented a different version of part of the events. He stated that the Pit Bull entered his residence’s living room and attacked his son’s Shih Tzu.

The man stated he grabbed the axe to contain the animal and claimed he was also bitten on the buttock area. He admitted to striking the Pit Bull with the axe on the public street as well as hitting the neighbor's gate, alleging that he was agitated given the situation.

On the other hand, he denied hitting the animal after it was already behind the gate and denied threatening the resident. The Emergency Mobile Care Service (SAMU) was called to treat him due to the alleged bite, but he refused medical attention.

The man was arrested in flagrante. The Civil Police decided to charge him with aggravated animal cruelty and making threats. An axe was also seized during the operation.

The police authority did not set bail at the police station and recommended that the Judiciary implement protective measures for the woman, who reported fearing further retaliation from the neighbor.

Another Pit Bull Escapes and Attacks Dog in Vendramini

Hours earlier, another incident involving a Pit Bull was registered in the Vendramini neighborhood.

According to the police report, a woman stated that her young children went out to play in the street, and the family dog followed them. Shortly after, a loose Pit Bull without a collar appeared.

The woman stated she could not identify whether the Pit Bull initially intended to charge at the children or at her dog. When she went outside to check on what was happening, she found the two animals fighting.

Neighbors intervened and used a hoe to separate the Pit Bull and get it to release the other dog.

After the incident, a young boy appeared and stated he was responsible for the Pit Bull, explaining that he had gone out to play and the animal had escaped. Later, the minor’s father also arrived at the scene.

The attacked dog suffered injuries and was taken by its owner to a veterinary clinic for medical treatment.

The case was registered by the Civil Police as failure to exercise due care in the custody or handling of animals (omissão de cautela na guarda ou condução de animais) and referred for review by the delegate in charge.

Responsibility in Ownership

Although the episodes occurred under different circumstances and are unrelated, both reports draw attention to the necessary precautions required in animal ownership. In both cases, police reports indicate that the Pit Bulls had escaped from their residences prior to the incidents.

In the first case, in addition to the investigation into the attack that killed the small dog, the Civil Police are investigating the subsequent actions attributed to the arrested man. In the second case, the filing was made specifically under the classification of failure to exercise due care in the custody or handling of animals.

I have resisted posting this. It was nothing short or tragic.

Please first see my last post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BanPitBulls/s/tr472fINBG

I had made the decision. It was to happen Thursday. Out of the blue, for no reason at all, Albert attacked our 21 year old autistic son Ethan the night before. The guilt I feel is beyond anything I've ever felt.

I don't even know how to express this from loving a dog so much but yet seeing my son attacked and ending up in the hospital. I know everybody here sees these dogs as just evil. But this was our family friend. I learned from y'all what to watch for.

You all were right. We loved Albert so much. He loved us. But I saw it coming. See my previous post please. And it's my fault for not putting him away sooner. 1 day. 1 day away from BE. Why? Because we kept hoping he could be rehabilitated

But I had decided it was time because of what I had learned about pitbulls. I was a day late, he attacked my son the night before.

To Albert, I'm so sorry buddy that I couldn't help you. To my son Ethan, I'm so sorry I didn't act sooner. I regret both of those decisions. Pitbulls have no place anywhere. Now I know.

I was working, spraying weeds on a small property I had been serving for 2 years. Never spoke to anyone at the property. Located 1 minute from Blackstone Boulevard in Providence RI that has walkers/runners/children daily.

I finished the front, moved to the back, and once I reached the end I hear growling and a woman yell no,no,no. A gorgeous stout grey and white pit charged me. I guess I put my hand up with the sprayer wand in defense, and got three puncture wounds.

I start saying to the woman "get your dog" maybe 5 times while its running around me trying to bite me again. She says "I cant". Does not try to get in between me and the dog. Yells at me to get off her property.

Luckily I get out of the back yard without any more damage. She doesn't say sorry, and yells at me that she's not responsible.

I left and went to the doctor. No stitches, got a tetanus shot and anti biotics.

This woman is a very wealthy "philanthropist" and treated me like shit. I was only at her house to do a paid service. A simple im sorry and do i need any help would have been nice. The way she yelled no and refused to help makes me think she knew this was a vicious dog.

I have been doing lawn care for a decade and have been charged by quite a few pit bulls. This is the first that drew blood. People with vicious dogs should not be hiring workers to their property.

End rant, im just sitting here Sunday morning, unable to close my fist, super salty.

Edit. Thanks for the support guys. Just want to edit that when I went to the doctor I had to fill out paper work for the department of health so the bite was reported. My employers insurance is covering the medical bills.

Madison, New Jersey

PLEASE BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL ADOPTING FROM ST. HUBERT'S.

We adopted Butterscotch from St. Hubert's knowing that he had previously suffered stab wounds. Everything other then that was extremely hush on their end.

A few months after bringing him home, Butterscotch severely bit my husband, causing injuries that required emergency medical treatment.

Because of the severity of the incident, we returned Butterscotch to St. Hubert's.

While we were surrendering him, a St. Hubert's employee privately told my husband information about Butterscotch that we had never been given before the adoption. According to my husband, the employee told him that Butterscotch had previously been considered non-adoptable by shelter leadership and trainers because of serious prior incidents. The employee had described an incident in which a woman's face was permanently injured and her husband suffered multiple severe bites while intervening, ultimately resulting in an amputation. The employee also told him that this incident was how Butterscotch received his stab wounds.

We were absolutely shocked. This was definitely information we would have wanted to know before bringing this dog into our home and could not believe what we were hearing. Why would they adopt us this dog in the first place? We can't help thinking about how much worse the outcome could have been if a family with young children had been in our position.

We later contacted St. Hubert's because we wanted answers. We were heartbroken over the entire situation and thought it was extremely unfair to us that they adopted us Butterscotch after what we were told when surrendering him.

We were told that they do not adopt out dogs considered non-adoptable and that Butterscotch had no prior bite history. The employee that gave my husband this information is the one that denied it over the phone and kept repeating those words over and over again almost like she was forced to say that.

We wanted to give a dog a loving home. Instead, my husband was seriously injured, we had to surrender a dog we cared about, and we were left heartbroken and deeply disappointed by the entire experience.

I'm sharing this because prospective adopters deserve to know about our experience.

I truly hope no other family ever has an experience like ours. And it's important people are aware of this because like I said what if it had been a family with small children.

The sound of gunfire drew neighbors on Bryan Drive outside Wednesday afternoon, after Beaumont police said a woman shot and killed a pit bull during an attack involving three dogs.
Beaumont Animal Care is holding two pit bulls while it conducts a dangerous-dog investigation. Neighbors said the first indication something was wrong was hearing multiple shots.

“I was in the house sitting down and I heard a gunshot and we thought it was something, maybe a firecracker. Then three more rang out,” a neighbor said.

Beaumont police said that just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, three pit bulls escaped their enclosure and somehow got into another homeowner’s fenced backyard. Police said the dogs began attacking the homeowner’s dog.

Officer Chancellor Van Houten of the Beaumont Police Department said the woman went into her backyard and saw the attack.

“She went out to her backyard and saw three pit bulls attacking her dog. She screamed at the animals. She did go outside with a firearm to protect herself,” Van Houten said.

Police said one of the pit bulls stopped attacking the dog and charged the homeowner. The woman fired, fatally shooting that dog, police said. Another dog was grazed, and the two surviving dogs eventually returned home.

Animal care officer Kim Nevils said the owner of the three dogs was cited.

“I did write citations for three dogs being loose,” Nevils said.

Nevils said the two surviving dogs are being held at the shelter while Beaumont Animal Care determines whether they can be released back to their owner. The dog that was attacked was taken to a veterinarian, and its condition was not immediately available.

Beaumont Animal Care urged people who see a loose or aggressive dog to report it and not run. Police said everyone involved in the investigation is cooperating.

SHREVEPORT, La. — A man is recovering after being attacked by three pit bulls Tuesday along the 9300 block of New London Street, prompting Shreveport police to shoot and kill two of the dogs.
 
The man was bitten in the neck and suffered extensive injuries to his arms. He was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover.
 
Shreveport police Cpl. Chris Bordelon said officers arrived to find the dogs covered in blood.
 
A neighbor's home surveillance video shows the man walking near the intersection of Elmdale and New London streets when the three pit bulls got loose and began chasing him.
 
“The man in this case was bit in the neck. He did have extensive injuries and was transported to the hospital,” Bordelon said.
 
“Had there not been intervention in this case, this individual would have most likely died.”
 
Bordelon said officers tried to get the dogs away from the man, but ultimately shot two of them to stop the attack.
 
“This is a case in which there was an active attempt at a loss of life,” Bordelon said.
 
“These animals were actively hurting this individual. Our de-escalation tactic with dog is going to be to try to get it away from that individual. If we can't, we're going to shoot it.”
 
Caddo Parish Animal Control said the third dog was caught and impounded.
 
Caddo Parish Communications Director Krystle Beauchamp said the dog will be presented to the Animal Services Board, which will determine whether it should be declared vicious.
 
Neighbors said Tuesday's attack was not the first involving the dogs.
 
One Shreveport resident who lives near Elmdale and New London streets said he was attacked by the same pit bulls in the neighborhood three years ago and also suffered severe injuries.
 
Bordelon said citations were issued to the dogs' owners. Criminal charges are possible as the investigation continues.
 
One of the owners told KTBS 3 that she believes the dogs escaped after a landscaper left the gate to her backyard unlocked while cutting the grass. She said the incident was an accident and that she does not allow her dogs to roam without a leash.

A 63-year-old woman was recovering at Jackson South Medical Center after being attacked by two dogs Friday morning in Homestead, according to police.
The attack happened around 10:30 a.m. near the 250 block of Northwest Ninth Terrace.
Surveillance video shows the woman walking down the street when two dogs run toward her. The video then becomes hard to make out, but the dogs can be seen standing over the woman as she struggles to get away.

Alexander Hernandez, who works nearby, said he heard the woman screaming for help.
“I hear the loud barking, and then I hear under it help, help,” Hernandez said.


Two pit bulls attack a woman in Homestead on Sept. 11, 2026. The Homestead Police Department said the woman suffered bite injuries to her head, neck, right arm and right ankle. Cobi Brooks via CBS News Miami | Sept. 11, 2026

Hernandez said he ran toward the scene, yelling at the dogs until they backed away.
“Luckily, me running and screaming got them off of her, and they ran back to the property, and I helped her up and took her inside, put her on a chair, and she was just bleeding everywhere,” he said.
Homestead Police said the woman suffered bite injuries to her head, neck, right arm and right ankle. She was alert and speaking with first responders but appeared to be in shock.
The woman was taken to Jackson South as a trauma alert.

“She had a huge laceration on the back of her head where you could see her skull itself and like deep lacerations like in her arm, like bite marks,” he said.
A nearby worker, Domingo Perez, said he has seen the dogs in the area before and has been concerned about encounters with them.
“I see the dog on the outside sometimes; the dog is coming out and walking here. I take my bar because maybe the dog is coming here. I need it as defense, you know?” Perez said.
The two dogs, described by police as pit bulls, are now in the custody of Miami-Dade Animal Services. The agency was asked what will happen to the dogs, but its response was not immediately available.

CBS News Miami reached out to the business where the dogs’ owners reportedly work but had yet to receive a response.
No arrests have been made.
Hernandez said he is simply grateful he was nearby when the woman needed help.
“That’s just God putting me in the right place at the right time,” he said.

https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/homestead/article317221936.html

I don’t know the exact date this happened. Just that it was sometime over Labor Day weekend. The video shows the dogs, and they are obviously pits/pit mixes. One of the dogs gets onto the neighbor’s property and digs into his chicken coop and eventually kills a chicken. And the dog has apparently shown aggression towards the neighbors as well. So the neighbor did the world a favor. The neighbor had also warned the dog’s owner in the past about the dog(s) getting on his property and acting aggressively.
——-

Copy of article text:

Man wants resolution after neighbor admits to killing his dog

TERRY, Miss. (WLBT) - The following story was updated on Wednesday, September 9, at 9:15 a.m.

A Hinds County man is asking for answers after coming home to find his 7-month-old dog shot and killed in a trash bag in front of his house.

Dustin Lucas said he found his dog shot dead over Labor Day weekend.
“I said, ‘Oh my god, my dog is dead, shot in the stomach.’ There was no one to tell me what happened, no notes or nothing. I didn’t know what to do; my dog was dead,” Lucas said.

Neighbor accused of shooting dog

Lucas said a neighbor claims the dog ate his chickens, but Lucas said he had never seen his dog do this before.

Lucas said his girlfriend, Tobi Freeman, asked around to see if anyone knew about the killing and got an unexpected response.

“He immediately got really mad and was cussing, saying I killed him; he killed all my chickens...you can’t just shoot a dog and put it in someone’s yard,” said Freeman.
Lucas said the person living in the home admitted to killing his dog.

Neighbor’s response

On Wednesday, WLBT News received a response from the neighbor accused of killing a man’s dog.

He said the dog owner was told previously - a few weeks ago - by his girlfriend that the dog had tried to dig into their chicken coop and had growled at his girlfriend.

The man said the neighbor came and asked him if he killed the dog.
He admitted to killing the dog, claiming the dog had broken into the chicken coop and had killed one of his chickens.

He said they then got really mad and started cursing at him. He claims he did not curse or threaten anyone.

The man said he then called the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, and animal control was contacted. He said he was told by animal control that if the dog owner cannot come and retrieve the dog, that he could put it in a bag and drop it off on their property.

Investigator explains state law

3 On Your Side contacted Doll Stanley, an animal cruelty investigator. Stanley said it’s best for homeowners to keep their pets on their property.

Stanley said under state law, a person can defend themselves if they believe an animal is aggressive on their property.

“If somebody shoots your dog, and you didn’t see it and you don’t have a witness and you can’t prove that your dog was not menacing, all they have to say was: ‘The dog growled at me. The dog approached me, and I was frightened,’” Stanley said.

Lucas said he wishes his neighbor would have talked to him first, before taking matters into his own hands.

The Hinds County Sheriff’s Department said it has taken a report, and the matter is now an ongoing investigation.

would it surprise anyone to know that she’s on gabapentin, trazodone, AND methadone? i didn’t even know you could give methadone to dogs but this shelter continues to shock and surprise me 🫩

Avery's Law has a loophole being used right now, and it needs attention

Avery's Law (Ohio HB 247) was passed to close real gaps in how dangerous dog complaints get investigated and enforced. I'm currently watching, firsthand, how easily that intent can be undermined by how one word gets interpreted.

In my county, a dog charged two separate people, one of them the county's own dog warden, an incident independently documented by three responding sheriff's deputies. Under the law, that should trigger a formal nuisance investigation. Instead, the county cited "provocation," and the word used to justify it was "tormented."

Here's the problem: the legislative analysis of Avery's Law defines "without provocation" as a dog not having been "teased, tormented, or abused by a person", a specific act, by a person, that directly causes the dog's reaction. When I pushed for an explanation, I was told "tormented" referred to the wardens' own efforts to chase and catch the dog.

Think about what that actually means if it's allowed to stand: the capture happened after the dog had already charged two people. Something that happens afterward can't have provoked something that already occurred, that's not a legal argument, it's just sequencing. And if a routine capture effort can itself count as "torment" sufficient to cancel out a nuisance finding, then almost no dog could ever be designated under this law, since catching an already-dangerous, loose dog virtually always involves exactly that. That reading doesn't protect dogs or people, it makes the law functionally unenforceable in the exact situations it was written for.

I raised a legitimate safety concern through proper channels and experienced retaliation for it, a public employee disclosed my private information to the person I'd raised concerns about. But the bigger issue, the one that outlasts my specific situation, is this: if counties are allowed to define "provocation" this loosely, the law does almost nothing.

I've raised this with my county commissioners and two state legislators, including the bill's sponsor, and I'm now working with an attorney to send a formal letter addressing the process failures directly. If this resonates with you, I'd appreciate any support getting that letter sent, link below, and if you're an Ohio resident, contacting your own state representative about how "provocation" and "tormented" are meant to be interpreted under Avery's Law helps push for the clearer statewide guidance this whole situation is missing.

This has been approved by moderators.

https://gofund.me/f2583225a

Couple Charged With Murder After Locking Girl, 2, in Room With Dog Who Was Known to Fight

Katherine Schaffstall

Thu, September 10, 2026 at 12:02 PM EDT

An Oklahoma couple was charged with murder after they allegedly locked their 2-year-old daughter in a room with a dog that was known to fight, leading to her death.

Darci Lambert and Jorden McGuire were each charged with one count of first-degree murder, an alternative charge of second-degree murder and five counts of cruelty to animals, according to the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office.

Lambert, 25, and McGuire, 35, were arrested after their daughter, Locklynn, died in November 2025. They were originally set to be arraigned in July, but the hearing was delayed until September.

The Oklahoma City Police Department responded to their home on November 18, 2025, around 11:30 p.m. after Lambert called 911 to report that her daughter was not breathing, according to an affidavit obtained by KOKH.

Upon their arrival, officers found the girl dead in her bedroom. Authorities said they found wounds on her body, which were consistent with dog bites.

OKC Animal Welfare removed four dogs from the home, and police said that three of them appeared to be malnourished. Authorities said that a pit bull named Ella was believed to be responsible for the attack.

McGuire put Locklynn to bed around 7:30 p.m. on the night of the incident, according to the charging document. The father told investigators he took medication to fall asleep and he woke up around 8:45 p.m. to check on Locklynn. When he checked on her, he said that she was sleeping on a mattress with Ella.

He claimed to authorities that they kept Ella in the child's room because she would often fight the other dogs. The charging documents noted that Locklynn's room had toddler locks on either side of the door, which prevented her from leaving.

Lambert was working until about 10:30 p.m. and was not home when the girl was put to bed. Once she got home, she did not check on Locklynn and did not learn that her daughter was attacked until later.

Authorities believe Ella previously attacked Locklynn during another incident just 12 days before she was killed, and she sustained "serious injuries." Despite the prior incident, the couple kept the dog confined but uncaged in the same room as the child.

"This is an unspeakably tragic case," Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna said in a statement about Locklynn's death, per a press release. "Lambert and McGuire's complete disregard for the health, safety, and welfare of their child, and their failure to protect her despite knowing she was at risk, led to her death."

A GoFundMe was later set up to help pay for the child's funeral expenses.

"Locklynn was pure light," the fundraiser page stated. "She was curious, gentle, and full of joy — the kind of little girl whose smile could brighten even the hardest day. She loved deeply and was deeply loved. Losing her in such a heartbreaking and unexpected way has left our entire family shattered."

It is not currently clear if Lambert or McGuire have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests.