A tragic dog attack in Arkansas claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl, identified as McCayra Fortner, who was trying to feed malnourished puppies abandoned by their owner.
The incident occurred at a property in Alexander, roughly 17 miles from Little Rock. Fortner, along with her mother, Stephanie Wilkie, had gone there to help the neglected dogs after becoming aware of their distressing condition.
A neighbor, Ralph Murphy, reported seeing the initial responding officer fire several shots to ward off the aggressive dogs that had converged at the fence.
“I saw the deputies arrive and approach the fence, and a bunch of dogs came running over,” Murphy recounted. “The officer shot twice into the ground to scare them off. Then he walked back after taking a quick look.”
For months, residents had expressed concerns about the uncontrolled dog situation, with many claiming the packs roamed freely in the area. Yet, officials stated they were limited in what they could do about it.
“I contacted Saline County about the issue, and they sent deputies, but were told there’s no animal control available in the county,” Murphy mentioned.
Another neighbor, Heidi Clay, noted the severity of the problem, saying, “The dogs were so aggressive that nobody wanted to let their kids near the bus stop.” She reflected on the new neighbors, who moved in with numerous dogs and abandoned vehicles, which seemed to contribute to the chaos.
“This was a beautiful young girl who lost her life because these people didn’t care for their dogs properly and had issues with hoarding them,” Clay added.
In the wake of the attack, Benton officials removed 14 dogs from the property and subsequently euthanized them, although four dogs remained trapped inside during the incident.
The Saline County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with Benton’s animal care services, is looking into the case.
Fortner was a student at Bryant Public School and is remembered fondly by friends and family as a “beautiful, bright girl with a kind soul.” A fundraising page honoring her noted, “Her smiles could light up a room, and her laughter brought comfort to those around her.” She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
