Zoey Hawkins, 4 year old Visalia, California girl mauled to death by pit bull while getting out of family pool. Pit bull supporters maintain the attack was an anomaly.
A 4 year old California girl has died after she was mauled to death by her family’s pit bull while swimming at her family home in Visalia earlier this month.
Zoey Hawkins, 4, was getting out of her kiddie pool on September 4, as her dad, Eric Hawkins, momentarily headed inside to grab a towel, only for the family pit bull to suddenly set on the girl.
By the time Zoey’s dad looked back, mere seconds later, the dog bit Zoey in her armpit. She later would die from her wounds after being transported to the hospital according to a Facebook release from the Visalia Police Department.
Parents advocated for pit bull breed
Grieving his daughter’s loss, Eric posted on Facebook, writing: ‘I thank you for ever moment I had with you Zozo.
‘Zozo I love you so it was the best time of my life waking up to see you the mornings.’
Zoey’s cousin, Pearl Vargas, told Fox 28 the 4-year-old had been around the dog for more than two years and the family was in disbelief that it would attack her.
‘Her and the dog would always play with each other,’ Vargas said. ‘They would always be around each other. So we have no clue what the reason was or why the dog even did this in the first place.’
Zoey’s mother Alexis Rodela Hawkins‘ Facebook bio describes herself as an ‘animal person.’
Eric has posted several photos of pit bulls on his social media – including ones that advocate for the breed.
The couple even have a Facebook page dedicated to their pit bull, Tara Lynn Hawkins where they posted photos of the dog.
‘Hi my name is Tara Lynn Hawkins. My mommy and daddy post on my Facebook,’ was written in the page’s bio.
Anomaly attack?
In a GoFundMe campaign set up by Vargas to support the family with funeral costs, she described Zoey as a ‘vibrant and loving’ girl.
As of Wednesday morning, it has raised nearly $14,000 toward its $20,000 goal.
‘She was always dancing like they were just playing music for her, and she would just start dancing around, twirling in circles,’ Vargas told Fox 28.
Vargas said the family is traumatized and don’t plan on getting another dog because they have two other infant children.
A spokesperson for the Visalia Police Department said the pit bull did not have any history of violent behavior or violent acts.
‘The dog was taken by animal control and euthanized that evening at the family’s request,’ they added.
Pit bull supporters maintain the deadly attack on girl in Visalia was ‘an anomaly’.
