CALIFORNIA -- The older siblings of a two-year old killed by the family dog on Saturday have been taken into custody by Child Protective Services, according San Diego Police.
Police said a seven-year old girl, a five-year old girl and a three-year old boy were in the house when their family pet attacked toddler Aaron Carlson in the family's Murphy Canyon home.
Police said a seven-year old girl, a five-year old girl and a three-year old boy were in the house when their family pet attacked toddler Aaron Carlson in the family's Murphy Canyon home.
Aaron was in an upstairs bedroom in the military housing area home on Lofberg St. when the attack happened around 11:30 a.m. Police said the child's mother was resting on the couch during the attack.
Neighbors said she slept through the ordeal. Aaron was taken to Rady Children's Hospital but did not survive.
Lt. Richard O'Hanlon said the custody would be temporary.
"This is a tragedy and we are treating it as such," said Lt. Rick O'Hanlon. "There are no criminal charges pending against the mother."
The childrens' father is in the Navy and was deployed.
Family Law Attorney David Wilkinson said the military is likely sending the father of the children home. "In a case where a child is hurt or killed, the military would send that parent back immediately," he said.
The attack happened on Saturday morning. The family had owned to the one and a half year old shepherd mix for roughly six months. It has since been euthanized by County Animal Services.
(NBC San Diego - Aug 2, 2010)
