Photo: GoFundMe
A 3-year-old Minnesota boy, Covil Allen, has sustained life-threatening injuries after he and his mother were attacked by two dogs, according to multiple reports. The incident occurred on Friday, July 19, around 12:45 p.m. at a residence in Brooklyn Park, Minn., as reported by CBS News. Covil was playing on playground equipment when the two dogs attacked him and his mother.
In response to this tragic event, the Allen family is working with Life Source to donate Covil’s organs. A GoFundMe page has been created to help cover medical bills, daily expenses, and other costs that might arise in the wake of the tragedy. “This will honor Covil’s life and save more children’s lives in hopes that no other parent has to endure the pain they are experiencing right now,” the fundraiser states. It also asks for prayers for the Allen family, emphasizing that they are going through the most difficult time of their lives.
According to the fundraiser, Covil’s mother, Tasha, underwent three surgeries and will need multiple skin grafts as she recovers from her injuries. Reports from the Associated Press and the Star Tribune indicate that the attacking dogs were pit bulls. However, the GoFundMe page mentions that the dogs were bulldogs.
When the dogs attacked Covil, adults at the scene attempted to defend the boy using hammers and pickaxes to fend off the animals, as reported by WCOO-TV citing a search warrant. Brooklyn Park police were dispatched to the scene and “discharged their service weapons,” hitting both dogs. One dog died from its injuries, while the other survived. The owners of the dogs are cooperating with the police investigation.
Brooklyn Park police Inspector Elliot Faust commented on the incident, stating that he will be contacting city leaders and elected officials about the problem of dog attacks in the community. “It’s a problem in our community,” he said, according to the Star Tribune. “We had more potentially dangerous dogs this year than we did last year.”
The Allen family’s ordeal has brought attention to the issue of dangerous dog attacks and the need for increased safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
