DELAND, Fla. — An 8-year-old boy is dead after Volusia County Sheriff's Office officials say a pair of dogs attacked him.

What You Need To Know

  • An 8-year-old boy is dead after Volusia County Sheriff's Office officials say a pair of dogs attacked him

  • Michael Millett was riding his bike with a friend but stopped to pet one of the dogs and was attacked, witnesses told deputies

  • Authorities say deputies and Volusia County Animal Services officers chased and captured both dogs, with one described as a pit bull terrier and the other a mixed breed

  • The dog's owner can turn over them over to Animal Services or can go to court to appeal to get them back, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said

  • Chitwood said his office will push to make sure the dogs are destroyed

Officials say the attack happened just before 5 p.m. on Monday in the area of Arabesque Drive and Airport Road, off County Road 15A.

Michael Millett was riding his bicycle with a friend and stopped to pet one of the dogs and was then brutally attacked, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said at a news conference Tuesday. 

Millett's mother witnessed the attack, intervened and tried to provide first aid, but Chitwood said her son was not breathing.

“How many parents hugged their kids and kissed them and said, 'Goodnight, I love you?' And here we have a mother who is fighting evil and trying to revive her son,” Chitwood said.

Authorities say deputies and Volusia County Animal Services officers chased and captured both dogs, with one described as a pit bull terrior and the other a herding breed mixed, the latter of which took about an hour to capture.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office and Animal Services are awaiting a response from the dogs' owner. The dogs can either be turned over to Animal Services or the owner can appeal to get them back, Chitwood said. But the owner would have to go to court to appeal.

Chitwood said his office will press to make sure that the dogs are destroyed.

According to Chitwood, residents told deputies that the dogs typically roam around the neighborhood and are aggressive. Residents said the dogs have been terrorizing the neighborhood, but no one ever called to make a complaint, Chitwood said.

The sheriff said he is working with the State Attorney's Office to hold the dog owner responsible. The yard at the owner's house is not fully fenced, and the gate was left open anyway, so the dogs could roam, Chitwood said.

Pet owners have a responsibility to ensure their dogs are raised responsibly and are safe, an Animal Services official said. Residents should report any loose dogs or early signs of violence, the Animal Services official said.

In an initial statement on Monday night, Chitwood said, “I don’t know what anyone can say to ease the immense pain this family is feeling tonight. This is a tragedy beyond comprehension, especially for those of us who are parents and grandparents. I can only ask our community to say a prayer of strength for this family and keep them in your hearts as they face their worst nightmare.”