North Carolina Toddler Mauled by Family Dog Later Dies in Hospital: Reports

A toddler who was attacked by the family dog in North Carolina last week has died, according to reports on Oct. 29.

Triniti Harrell, of Rocky Mount, was hospitalized at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill since the attack, WRAL reported. A deputy shot and killed the dog while it was attacking the girl.

Authorities later confirmed to WITN that she died over the weekend at the hospital.

Authorities told WRAL that Miranda Harrell and her daughter were outside their home when the dog, a pitbull, attacked Triniti and thrashed her around.

Harrell then called 911 and fought to get the dog off her child. “I need some help. My dog is attacking my daughter,” Harrell told a 911 dispatcher. “Hurry, she’s dying. Please hurry.”

The dispatcher told Harrell to use a stick to pry open the dog’s mouth and hit it on the head. Then, the dispatcher told her to slit its throat with a knife to stop the attack.

According to WRAL, Harrell told the dispatcher that those options failed. Authorities said she also tried to stab the animal to stop the attack.

An undercover deputy had to shoot the dog several times, Sheriff Clee Atkinson told WRAL, adding that the first shot didn’t stop the attack.

“It’s just one of those incidents,” Atkinson added. “They were playing, having a good time, and the dog reacted at some point.”

The sheriff told WITN that no charges are expected in the case.

‘Most Abused Dogs on Earth’

Animal rights group PETA stated that pit bulls are “the most abused dogs on earth.”

“Pit bulls are left at shelters in record numbers—and since they are difficult to adopt out, reputable shelters (that don’t slam the door in the dogs’ faces) are finding that they must euthanize more pit bulls and pit bull mixes than all other dogs combined,” the group said.