Middle Tennessee boy mauled by two dogs, good Samaritans also attacked

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--A Maury County 6-year-old boy was mauled by two dogs on Sunday, sending the boy to the hospital and resulting in the dogs being euthanized.

Jack Cooper, Director of Animal Services in Maury County, says the attack took place on Sunday evening. According to Cooper, the boy was staying with a caregiver at their home while the two dogs were in the fenced backyard.

At some point and for reasons still unclear, the dogs attacked the boy. Two neighbors responded to help the boy and they were also bitten. Cooper says one of the dogs was the primary attacker but the second dog also bit the child.

"This was a pretty gruesome dog attack," Cooper says. Cooper, who is also the head of the Animal Control Department, was among those who responded to the scene. He says the boy was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment.

"Both dogs did appear to be aggressive and the decision was made to euthanize them on Sunday night," Cooper says.

The dogs were described as pit bull type dogs.