On Tuesday morning, tragedy struck the home of a North Port, Florida family, when their 6-year-old boy, Daylan Guillen, was mauled to death by the family dog.
Around 10:30 a.m., neighbors rushed to the home after hearing screaming and were met by police responding to reports of the attack. Daylan was then airlifted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he was stabilized and flown to Tampa General for additional medical treatment. Despite the efforts to save his life, he succumbed to the injuries sustained from the attack.
The pit bull mix that was responsible for the attack was then removed from the home and taken by Sarasota County Animal Services, where it will be euthanized by request of the owners after its 10-day quarantine. Josh Taylor, public information officer of the North Port Police Department, said the dog had no history of aggression and had been living in the home since it was a puppy.
North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison expressed his condolences for the family, “Our hearts are broken for this young child and his family. As a father and pet owner, I know this is one of the worst tragedies you can imagine. We ask that everyone take a few moments to pay respect and reflect on those you care for in your life. Our time here is precious.”
Daylan was an avid baseball fan, and according to the North Port Little League organization, “Daylan loved baseball! And he would be at the field with a smile on his face and ready to go. Daylan had no fear with playing with the older kids. He wanted to become a pitcher. He loved the Juniors team and those boys loved him.” A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist the family with medical and funeral costs, and Daylan’s kidneys were reportedly donated to “two other little kids in need.”
Statistics from DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victim’s advocacy group, have revealed that between 2005 and 2020, there were 568 dog-related fatalities in the United States, with pit bulls being responsible for 67% of those deaths. Time magazine reported in 2014 that pit bulls make up 6% of the dog population, but are responsible for 68% of all dog attacks and 52% of dog-related deaths since 1982.