Neighbors’ dogs maul child

• By KORAN ADDO
• Advocate Westside bureau
• Published: Apr 11, 2009 - Page: 1B

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MORGANZA — A 4-year-old boy was mauled to death by three dogs Friday in the yard of his home, Pointe Coupee Parish sheriff’s deputies said.

Michael Landry was playing in front of his family’s residence at 7186 La. 3050 about 4 p.m. when the boxers belonging to neighbors came into the boy’s yard and attacked him, sheriff’s Capt. Steve Juge said.

Michael was airlifted by Acadian Ambulance to Pointe Coupee General Hospital in New Roads, where he died from his injuries, Juge said.

The dogs had been let out of a kennel to eat, Juge said, when they encountered the boy.

A man near the attack managed to separate the dogs from Michael.

That man, whose name has not been made public by investigators, was admitted to a hospital after the attack.

Following the attack, animal control officers took possession of the dogs pending an investigation.

Juge said, however, it was unclear Friday if all three dogs belong to the Landry family’s next-door neighbor.

Juge said the mauling remains under investigation and deputies were preparing to turn over a report of the incident to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.

It also was not immediately known whether the owner of the dogs would face criminal prosecution in Michael’s death, Juge said.

“This is a terrible situation,” Juge said. “That boy probably had an Easter basket in his home waiting for him on Sunday morning.”

In Morganza, a community of several hundred residents seven miles north of New Roads, most everybody knows each other, Juge said.

This community is going to be reeling from this tragedy for a long time, Juge said.