COVINA – A 5-year-old girl who was mauled on the head and torso as her father tried to protect her from two large family dogs in their backyard in unincorporated Covina was identified by authorities Tuesday.
The attack occurred around noon Sunday in the 2500 block of Palomino Drive, according to Sheriff’s homicide Lt. Steven De Jong.
The girl, Amelia Yu, was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
“The child had been around the dogs her entire life,” De Jong said.
Amelia’s father told detectives she was walking behind him in the backyard when he realized two dogs were attacking her and jumped on his daughter to protect her, the lieutenant said.
The attacking dogs were a 10-year-old Rottweiler and a 6-year-old Rottweiler-Weimaraner mix, De Jong said. All four of the dogs who lived at the home were taken into custody by Los Angeles County Animal Control officers.
Detectives were investigating the child’s death as “a very unfortunate, tragic accident,” De Jong said.
