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Dog that killed boy, 3, was visiting base

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The owner of a pit bull that attacked and killed a 3-year-old boy here Wednesday was a civilian visiting the home where the attack occurred, a base spokesman said.

The civilian, whose name has not been released, was an acquaintance of the boy’s family and did not live in base housing, Maj. Nat Fahy said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Julian Slack died shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday at Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville. The hospital is a short drive from Lejeune’s Tarawa Terrace I, the housing development where Slack lived with his mother and father, a corporal with 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

A baby sitter was watching Slack when “an acquaintance of this Marine visited the home of the child,” Fahy said. At some point, the dog was let into the home. The dog became excited by the child’s reaction and attacked Slack about 4 p.m., Fahy said.

Slack’s parents pulled into the driveway as their child was being attacked and took him to the hospital. He died of blood loss, according to a medical examiner interviewed by the Jacksonville Daily News. His death has been ruled an accident.

The dog was quarantined at the base veterinarian office Thursday. Fahy said he did not know if the dog’s owner will be charged.

“We are deeply saddened,” Fahy said. “This really does hit home with us all here.”

Fahy said the base commander is reviewing the base policy on pets. Lejeune’s policy does not prohibit any particular breed of dog to live in base housing.

The policy states, “Vicious and potentially dangerous animals will not be allowed aboard the Base. Animals deemed vicious and potentially dangerous are determined by authorities by a display of aggressive behavior by the animal.”

The rules do not address dogs brought into base housing by visitors.

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