Makayla Fortner Obituary, Death – A tragic incident occurred in Saline County, Arkansas, on Wednesday when a 15-year-old girl was fatally attacked by a group of dogs she had been helping care for. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office reported that they received a 911 call shortly after noon alerting them to a dog attack. When emergency personnel arrived, they found the teenager deceased within a fenced area on the property where the dogs were kept.
Authorities revealed that around 30 dogs were housed on the property as part of an informal animal rescue operation. The young victim had been volunteering her time to help care for the animals and was involved in efforts to place them in permanent homes. The sheriff’s office stated that while the girl had been familiar with the dogs and had previously worked with them, the reason behind the sudden and deadly aggression remains unclear.
While officials did not initially release the victim’s identity, local news outlet MySaline identified her as Makayla Fortner. A GoFundMe page created in her memory described Makayla as a kind-hearted and vibrant young girl. The fundraiser was set up to assist her grieving mother with expenses.
Following the attack, Benton Animal Control stepped in and took custody of the dogs involved. Authorities later confirmed that 14 of the animals had been euthanized. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is still ongoing.
Matt Thibault, a spokesperson for the city of Benton, expressed deep sorrow over the situation. He acknowledged that the rescue effort had been started with good intentions but had ended in a heartbreaking outcome. “This had all the best of intentions, and it turned into the worst nightmare for everybody involved,” Thibault told the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Local residents had previously raised concerns about the dogs. According to interviews with neighbors aired by ABC affiliate KATV, multiple complaints had been made to county officials about the animals’ behavior and the lack of proper containment. Heidi Clay, a neighbor, shared that the dogs were often aggressive along the fence line and posed a threat to local children. She noted that parents had to escort their children to and from the bus stop out of fear.
Clay also mentioned that the dogs appeared to be poorly cared for and expressed frustration over what she saw as a lack of timely intervention by authorities. She believed that the tragedy might have been prevented if action had been taken sooner. “And if somebody had done something, then maybe this little girl would be alive,” she said.
The incident has shaken the local community, raising concerns over the management of unregulated animal rescues and the need for stronger enforcement of safety measures when it comes to potentially dangerous animals.