close
close

Minnesota toddler attacked by two dogs and is not expected to survive

A three-year-old Minnesota boy suffered life-threatening injuries after he and his mother were attacked by two dogs, according to multiple reports.

Covil Allen of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and his mother were attacked by two dogs around 12:45 p.m. on Friday, July 19, CBS News reported. The three-year-old was playing on a playground equipment at a Brooklyn Park apartment building when the incident occurred.

According to a GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover medical bills, daily expenses and other costs that may arise in the wake of the tragedy, the Allen family is currently working with Life Source to donate Covil’s organs.

“This will honor Covil’s life and save the lives of other children in the hope that no other parent will have to endure the pain they are experiencing,” the fundraiser states.

He later added, “Please pray for the Allen family as they go through the most difficult time of their lives.” According to the fundraiser, which launched on July 20, Tasha underwent three surgeries and required several skin grafts.

According to Associated Press, CBS News and the Star-Tribunethe dogs were pit bulls. However, the GoFundMe page says they were bulldogs. PEOPLE reached out to Brooklyn Park police for more information but did not immediately receive a response.

Want to stay up to date with the latest crime reports? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter featuring breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage, and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

When the dogs went after Covil, “the adults began defending the three-year-old, using hammers and pickaxes to scare the dogs away,” WCOO-TV reports, citing a search warrant.

CBS News reports that Brooklyn Park police were dispatched to the scene and “fired their service weapons,” striking both dogs. One died and the other sustained injuries. According to the source, the dog owners are cooperating with police in the investigation of the case.

The Associated Press reported that Brooklyn Park Police Inspector Elliot Faust will contact political leaders and elected officials about dog attacks.

“It is a problem in our community,” he said, according to the Star-Tribune“We had more potentially dangerous dogs this year than last year.”