BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) — A 3-year-old Minnesota boy who was attacked by two pit bulls last week is not expected to survive, his family said.
Covil Allen’s parents are preparing their son to be an organ donor, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday. An online campaign is raising funds to help Covil parents cover expenses related to the July 19 attack in their backyard.
A search warrant obtained by WCCO-TV said Covil’s family was at a home in Brooklyn Park where dogs were being sold. Police said they believe the child’s parents were there to buy a dog.
When the dogs began attacking Covil, the adults “began to defend the 3-year-old child by using hammers and pickaxes to free the dogs,” according to the warrant.
Officers arrived and saw the dogs attacking the child and shot both animals, police said. One dog was killed and the other was taken to a veterinary hospital and euthanized.
The fundraising post said Covil’s mother was also bitten on the leg and underwent multiple surgeries.
Police said they are continuing their investigation into the Covil attack and another dog bite incident on Tuesday, when a 7-year-old girl was attacked by an unleashed dog. She was not seriously injured. Officers killed the dog when it tried to attack a boy, police said.
Brooklyn Park Police Inspector Elliot Faust said broader conversations are underway with city leaders and elected officials about dog attacks.
