County kills dog that fatally mauled Beaverdam infant

LIMA — A pit bull that fatally attacked a 3-day-old infant has been euthanized out of concerns for future safety, Allen County Dog Warden Julie Shellhammer said Monday. “It wouldn't be safe to put the dog back out in the community,” Shellhammer said.The dog was responsible for the death of Makayla Darnell at a Beaverdam home on May 17. The dog mauled the infant while the mother was preparing to feed the child and had just stepped away for a second. Makayla was taken to the hospital with head trauma and died several hours later.The decision to kill the male pit bull was made after discussing the case with veterinarians and case investigators at the Allen County Sheriff's Office, Shellhammer said.“It was determined it would be best,” she said.The dog was cremated after the procedure to end its life, Shellhammer said. The dog had been held at the Allen County Dog Warden's Office since the incident. Meanwhile, the investigation had not been concluded at the Allen County Sheriff's Office. Investigators had one more witness to interview before the case was to be turned over to the Allen County Prosecutor's Office for review.Makayla was in the living room of a Thayer Road home just north of Beaverdam when the dog attacked her. The infant's mother had just given her a bath and was preparing to feed her when the dog attacked the infant. She heard a baby whimper and looked to see blood on the swing, sheriff's officials reported.The infant was taken to a hospital in Bluffton before she was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Toledo where she died about five hours after the incident.The attack came just days before the state's new vicious dog law went into effect. Under the new law, pit bulls are no longer considered vicious dogs solely based on their breed.