Overview

• Makayla Fortner, 15, was feeding and caring for roughly 30 to 40 malnourished dogs on private property in Alexander when the animals attacked her on June 11.
• Neighbors had alerted authorities to the dogs’ deteriorating condition and aggressive behavior for months but were told the county lacked animal control resources.
• A responding deputy fired warning shots to disperse the pack before discovering Fortner’s body, and the specific trigger for the attack remains under review.
• Benton Animal Control assisted the sheriff’s office in removing the dogs, with 14 of the seized animals euthanized and four left locked inside the house.
• Community members honored Fortner as a compassionate volunteer, setting up a GoFundMe fundraiser in her memory.