Baby boy and sister, 2, mauled to death by family's pet dogs
Two young children have been mauled to death in their home by the family dogs, while their mum remains in hospital after trying to save them.
According to the Sheriff's Office, emergency services were called to the home near Shelby Forest State Park in Tennessee on Wednesday, after hearing the family's two pit bulls had attacked a five-month-old baby boy and a two-year-old girl at around 3.30pm.
Despite their best efforts, Hollace Dean Bennard and his sister Lilly Jane Bennard died at the scene from their injuries.
Mum Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, was also injured in the attack and had to be transported by paramedics in a critical condition to Regional One Health.
The respiratory therapist is apparently "hanging in there," a family friend reportedly told the Daily Mail.
It is unclear if her husband of five years, Colby Bennard, was home when the shocking incident occurred, but he was unharmed. Hollace and Lilly were the couple's only children.
While no details have been released about what caused the accident, The Shelby County Sheriff's Office told the publication on Thursday the pit bulls have been taken by Animal Control.
The pets were previously referred to as the "house lions" according to the Daily Mail, who saw Mr Bennard refer to them as such on Instagram.
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Investigations into the circumstances of the attack are ongoing.
Tributes go out on social media
Many have expressed their support and "prayers" for the family on social media.
Caitlin Kilebrew, a friend of Kirstie, updated her Facebook profile picture with a photo of both of them together, and said “My sweet friend — I love you” in the caption.
Another person wrote on Facebook "I cannot even comprehend what they are going through."
"This is devastating".
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