An Oklahoma toddler was pronounced dead outside his Kiefer home after a brutal mauling attack last week, police said.
3-year-old James McNeelis was playing with a dog at around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday when the recently-adopted canine attacked him.
The Creek County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies were initially told James was missing before his dad located his lifeless body.
“Shortly after deputies arrived on scene, a family member located the child on the property. The child was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:35 p.m.”
Local news outlets said that the dog, a mix between a Corgi and a Shetland Sheepdog, was adopted about three weeks ago.
The family insisted that during that time, the animal showed no signs of being aggressive or hostile.