DETROIT – Family and friends came together to honor the life of 4-year-old Lovell Anderson, who was killed in a dog attack on Detroit’s west side.
Police say Anderson was playing in his grandmother’s backyard when he was attacked on Wednesday (Oct. 18).
Officials believe the dog burrowed under the fence and attacked the 4-year-old boy.
“It’s a pain I can’t even describe,” said Anderson’s aunt Monique Grant.
Police and animal control took two dogs, including the family’s dog and one belonging to a neighbor living behind the grandmother’s home.
The family’s attorney spoke to Local 4 and said the family’s dog had been cleared, leaving the other dog, but it’s uncertain if that dog was responsible.
Officials say the neighbor has given up and or surrendered all rights responsible to its dog, so it’s at animal control where it would likely have to be euthanased and opened up to determine if it was responsible.
Police say if that dog was not responsible, then there could be another animal roaming the city’s west side.
Peter O’Toole, an attorney with Fieger Law who is representing the family, says if you know something, now is the time to speak up.
“The one thing that I think for community members is that if you haven’t talked to the authorities and you feel like you have something to share to, please come forward,” said O’Toole. “Any lead is a good lead. We are still trying to identify the owner of the dog that’s part of the investigation that is ongoing, but if there’s somebody in the community that does have information and haven’t come forward, I would just really ask that you really do so.”
Anderson has not been laid to rest yet, according to the family. They are working on those details on Monday (Oct. 23) and are struggling to come up with the money to pay for the funeral.