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1 month ago
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Bystanders armed themselves with anything they could to fend off two pit bull mixes as they brought a boy to the verge of death.
A recent court filing disclosed the harrowing detail, as 3-year-old Minnesotan Covil Allen's fate is all but sealed.
The court document also revealed the dogs were not full pit bulls, but a mix between a pit and an American bulldog.
Known as American bullies, the dog's breed boasts especially powerful jaws that inflict more damage than those of any other breed.
This likely proved fatal for Covil, who remains in critical condition. His family has made the difficult decision to donate his organs when they decide to take him off life support, as they said he is not expected to survive. His mom was injured during the July 19 attack as well, but will recover.
Three-year-old Covil Lee and his father are seen before the attack that has left him on the verge of death, on life support
A recent court filing disclosed the harrowing detail, as the young Minnesotan's fate is all but sealed
'There were adults in the area that started to defend the three-year-old by using hammers and pick axes to get the dogs off the three-year-old,' the filing said following the incident on N. Brooklyn Park Drive.
First responders arrived and gave immediate medical attention to the boy, the filing added - describing how he was subsequently taken by ambulance to a hospital with 'critical' injuries.
Police Inspector Elliot Faust went on to write how the dogs were not only just American bullies, but those of 'the XL variety,'
He noted how 'this breed is banned in the UK,' despite them not being officially recognized as a specific breed.
They are described as dogs having 'a muscular body and blocky head' - bred so they stand to a staggering 23 inches tall at times, compared to a 'classic' bully's 17 to 20 inches.
They were banned in England and Wales back in 1991, with a similar guidance in the works in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
NHS consultant Richard Baker afterwards said the dogs' powerful jaws inflict more damaging wounds than any other, regularly resulting in broken bones, shredded skin and damaged nerves.
Such was the case for Covil and his mother Tasha Vega last week, when they visited a home on the 7500 block of N. Brooklyn Park Drive where the dogs were for sale.
Also revealed was the fact the dogs were a mix between a pit and an American bulldog known as an American Bully. Moreover, the dogs were of the XL variety, the biggest there is
The attack saw the two mutts savage the boy and his mom until onlookers were able to kill one of the dogs and injure the other. The surviving dog was taken to an animal care facility, where it was later put down
One of them attacked Covil in the backyard, after which a second one joined in, cops said.
Faust went on to reveal how conversations were already underway with city leaders about the attack, writing, 'It's a problem in our community.
'We had more potentially dangerous dogs this year than we did last year.'
His comments appeared to reference how on Tuesday, a 7-year-old girl was attacked on the 7500 block of N. Janelle Avenue just a few miles away.
The girl suffered superficial injuries, according to cops, who added officers killed the dog when it then tried to attack a boy.
Officials said the dog was loose when it attacked the girl, as was the case with the attack on Covil.
It saw the two mutts savage the boy and his mom until onlookers were able to kill one of the dogs and injure the other. The surviving dog was taken to an animal care facility, where it was later put down.
As for Covil, he remains in critical condition - with his family on Wednesday revealing they had begun the painful process of preparing to donate the boy's organs.
As for Covil, he remains in critical condition - with his family on Wednesday revealing they had begun the painful process of preparing to donate the boy's organs. As of the family's latest update Friday, he remained alive
They shared a heartbreaking still of relatives' hands over the boy's body in his hospital bed, where he remained hooked up to a series of tubes on the brink of death.
His mom has had had two surgeries and third on the way to repair her calf, with a skin graft needed as well
In the interim, Faust said, detectives are working toward presenting a case to prosecutors 'in the near future for their review,' along with the other dog bite incident this week.
The boy's family have already said their goodbyes, as they plan to donate his organs in the coming days when he is taken off life support.
They said doctors have discerned his injuries were too severe for him to survive.
As of the family's latest update Friday, he remained alive.
A GoFundMe started by the family has so far raised $46,261 toward its $50,000 goal.
'This will honor Covil’s life and save more children’s lives in hopes that no other parent has to endure the pain that they are experiencing right now,' organizers wrote.
Sharing a series of photos of the tot, they added Friday, 'You are so loved Covil.'
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