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Boy, 4, mauled to death by family’s 4 dogs

Jacob Brooks was left by his mother in an enclosed trampoline in the backyard of the southeast El Paso home, where there were four dogs, according to police

By Tom Steele
The Dallas Morning News

EL PASO, Texas — An El Paso 4-year-old was mauled to death by his family’s dogs Thursday, police say.

Jacob Brooks was left by his mother in an enclosed trampoline in the backyard of the southeast El Paso home, where there were four dogs, police said in a statement.

When authorities responded to a call just before 8 p.m., they found Jacob’s body in the yard. It was unclear how long he’d been in there.

A neighbor told the El Paso Times that the family had a number of dogs of different breeds.

“The ambulance came, and when we saw the people who live there come out of the house crying, I imagined right way” what had happened, Ramon Payan said. “They have a lot of dogs, and aggressive dogs — pit bulls and German shepherds, big and small, about 10 dogs — and young children.”

“They practically ate him,” he added.

The boy’s mother — whose name was not released — was placed in protective custody and taken to a medical facility, and the dogs were seized by the city’s animal control.

No charges have been filed, and police continue to investigate.

Copyright 2017 The Dallas Morning News

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