Portland boy, 6, fatally mauled by family friend’s two Great Dane-Mastiffs

A 6-year-old Oregon boy was mauled to death by two dogs in a family friend’s home Tuesday as the child prepared to head to school.

Police were greeted at the door by a woman covered in blood after being called to the horrifying scene at the Portland home just after 7:40 a.m.

The woman, an unnamed friend of the boy’s grandmother, told officers that her large Great Dane-Mastiff mixes jumped on the child after he followed her into her home’s garage, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

“We understand that the homeowner/dog owner did everything in her power to stop this attack, at some point even grabbing a gun – it never got that far,” PPB Public Information Officer Mike Benner told Fox 12.

“She did everything she could to save this boy’s life.”

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The family friend was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries to her hands.

According to officials, the boy had been dropped off by his grandmother at the dog owner’s home to be taken to school, an everyday arrangement between the families.

The child had been previously told to stay away from the dogs and the garage in which they were kept in because they were dangerous, police said.

Authorities said there were no previous reports that the dogs had ever been a problem.

Although both dogs were involved in the attack, one has since been labeled the “primary aggressor.”

The pair have been taken into custody of Multnomah County Animal Services.

It is not yet clear if the family friend will face charges for the tragic attack. She allegedly grabbed a gun during the struggle, but didn’t shoot, Benner said.

“I speak for everyone at the bureau when I say that our hearts break for this little boy, for his family, for his friends. I mean, anytime something like this happens it’s a shock to the conscience but to have this happen just weeks before Christmas is unimaginable,” Benner said.

The PPB Child Abuse Team is leading the investigation with help from the Homicide Division.

The mauling is the latest in a string of violent dog attacks.

An Iowa mom lost both her legs and parts of her hands and will need facial reconstruction after she was attacked last week by three raging pit bulls.

A 6-year-old Florida boy was killed on the Fourth of July when he stumbled into a bedroom, where his family’s 3-year-old pit bull mix bit him on the chest and head, potentially out of fear from ongoing fireworks.