Teen Mauled to Death While Feeding 40 Starving Dogs in Arkansas
A 15-year-old girl was mauled to death while attempting to feed a pack of 40 starving dogs in Alexander, Arkansas, on Wednesday.
Despite repeated warnings from locals about the animals’ aggressive behaviour, Makayla Fortner and her mother, Stephanie Wilkie, approached the neglected dogs to provide food—only for the situation to take a tragic turn.
Residents had long voiced concerns about the roaming dogs, alleging they were malnourished and dangerously unpredictable.
“These dogs were very vicious at the fence, to the point that no one wanted to let their children walk to and from the bus stop,” local resident Heidi Clay told The Sun.
Authorities rushed to the scene, with one officer firing warning shots into the ground in an effort to disperse the pack, but Fortner had already sustained fatal injuries.
Days before the tragedy, Wilkie had shared her concerns on Facebook, describing the situation as “hoarding” and urging the community to help with veterinary care.
According to The Sun, she had appealed for support in spaying, neutering, and worming the dogs to improve their health. However, the crisis escalated before any intervention could be made.
Tributes have poured in following Fortner’s death. Her soccer team, the Bryant Lady Hornets, mourned her loss, describing her as a kind, hardworking, and passionate teammate.
Family friend Erin Bowman remembered her infectious smile and warm personality, saying, “She was deeply loved, and her laughter brought comfort to everyone around her.”
Authorities removed and euthanised 14 dogs from the property as investigations into the attack continue. Meanwhile, a fundraiser launched in Fortner’s memory has raised over £25,000 to support her grieving family.
Her death comes amid a string of fatal dog maulings in the U.S. Earlier this year, young Eliziah Turner was killed by a family pit bull in Ohio, and in March, dementia patient LaVonne Hoff was mauled to death by 24 dogs on a hiking trail in Sacramento.
Officials are now investigating Fortner’s death, as concerns grow over unchecked animal hoarding, neglect, and the dangers posed by uncontrolled stray populations in communities.
