4-Year-Old Boy Mauled To Death By Grandmother's Pet Rottweiler While Visiting Her Home

A 4-year-old boy was reportedly brutally mauled to death by his own grandmother's pet Rottweiler while the family paid her a visit in Tacarigua in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, Sept. 12.

On Sunday, Sept. 12, Amaziah Lewis, 4, who lived with his parents and other siblings in San Juan, came over to visit his 67-year-old grandmother in Savannah Drive, Tacarigua with his family.

Lewis' grandmother reportedly worked as the caretaker of the home as the owners were not living in Trinidad. The house had a kennel on the side of the yard where a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd that belonged to the owner were kept, Trinidad and Tobago Guardian reported.

The grandmother reportedly closed a gate to the house and told the children to stay inside the house while she cleaned the yard. However, she did not lock the gate properly. As she cleaned the yard, Lewis saw the dog inside the kennel and ran towards the canine. Lewis was reportedly familiar with dogs as he also had one at home.

However, the Rottweiler, who saw the kid approaching him, immediately pounced on the toddler, bit the boy’s neck, and began shaking the small child. Lewis' grandmother immediately rushed to the scene and attempted to separate the dog from her grandson.

The neighbors and workers who were renovating a nearby house heard the woman and the child’s screams and ran to assist. They threw pieces of lumber at the dog and chased the animal away, according to Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

Lewis, who was reportedly bleeding profusely from the wounds on his neck and head, died of his injuries before an ambulance arrived.

The police officers from the Arouca Police Station led by PC Nunez responded to the scene after they were alerted by the residents. When the officers went into the yard, the Rottweiler reportedly attacked them forcing them to open fire on the animal and kill it on the spot.

The dog had been in the family since it was a puppy and was usually playful with visitors. The officers believe that the dog attacked the child as it was not familiar with Lewis.

"This whole thing took about 20 minutes to half an hour. This whole thing was horrifying, the dog wasn't listening and letting go of the child no matter what we were doing," a worker who helped rescue the child from the dog said.