Gauge Eckenrode, 6-years old, was killed by a family pit bull in Lakemont.
Rescued Pit Bull
UPDATE 05/26/18: On Saturday, Blair County Coroner Patricia Ross officially identified the 6-year old boy killed Thursday by a family pit bull as Gauge Eckenrode. A fundraiser started by Taylor Crawford on May 24 had already done so. Logan Township Police Chief David Reese confirmed that family members tried to stop the attack by stabbing the dog. Police ultimately killed the dog. The dog was a "rescued pit bull" and had belonged to the family for several years, Reese said.
No other information was released about the pit bull, such as which rescue agency was involved, the dog's gender or spay/neuter status.
The boy's family had two dogs, according to news reports. The attacking pit bull was killed, and the family asked authorities to take away their other dog. The deadly attack occurred inside the family's home, Rick Vaughan said, a spokesman for the family. The child's father was cutting grass when he heard the mother screaming and discovered "the dog on the boy." By stabbing the dog, the father was able to get the animal off the child, but "It was already too late,” Vaughan said.
05/25/18: Family Pit Bull Kills Boy
Lakemont, PA - Blair County Coroner Patty Ross confirmed late Thursday that a 6-year old boy was killed by a family pit bull. The coroner ruled the boy died of blunt force trauma. The attack occurred at a home on Gesser Avenue. The child attended Baker Elementary School. Logan Township Police continue to investigate. Counselors will be available to help students and staff Friday. The child's name is being withheld out of respect for the family's wishes, reports WTAJ.
Rick Vaughan, a friend of the boy's family, said the boy died after the family dog attacked him just before 6:00 pm. Vaughan told the Altoona Mirror the boy's father was cutting grass when he heard the mother screaming and rushed to find "the dog on the boy." Despite the father's actions to get the dog off the child, "It was already too late," Vaughan said. The dog that killed the boy is dead. The family asked police to remove a second dog from their home, reports the Altoona Mirror.
A fundraiser for the little boy's family identifies him as Gauge Allen Eckenrode. He was a "happy little six year old boy who lost his little life to a pit bull attack," states the fundraiser page, created by Taylor Crawford. "We are trying to raise money to help cover all the expenses that this family needs, from medical bills all the way to the funeral expenses." The family "never expected" for anything like this to ever happen, states the page. Gauge had a little sister named Gypsy.
View the DogsBite.org Google State Map: Pennsylvania Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.Related articles:
11/24/17: Man Dies in North Philadelphia After Being Attacked by Four Pit Bulls on...
04/28/17: 2017 Dog Bite Fatality: Pit Bull-Mix Kills Owner in Upper Macungie Township
Law enforcement departments across the United States should release consistent "baseline" information to the media and the public after each fatal dog mauling, including these items.
well said and sadly so true
Rest in peace, little boy. May his family find strength in prayer. It’s and-boggling that thousands of years ago our ancestors developed skills to build shelters, make weapons, all to protect themselves and keep their children out of harms way. They knew animals are dangerous, they had healthy fear and respect for animals.
Now, thousands of years later, we became so spoilt, so used to feeling safe in our homes, so detached from reality of life, that we lost that healthy fear for dangerous animals. We trust tweets more than we trust our own eyes, our own gut feeling. We look at obviously strong and dangerous dogs, and perceive them as harmless, because we’ve been brainwashed by some breed advocates. And we bring those dangerous animals in our homes, and call them pets. And then tragedies like this happen . Wake up people. Wake up parents. I you see a muscular animal with strong jaws, it doesn’t belong in your home as a pet. Turn on your common sense.
The mother’s comments shown in this article are heartbreaking. Her precious child is dead, and all people have to offer is Facebook comments defending pitbulls and being snarky. That’s why it’s a bad idea to bring your family affairs on social media. When you’re vulnerable and in pain, the last thing you need is a bunch of strangers watching your tragedy the same way they would watch a soap opera, and making their insensitive comments.