Dog Mauling of Fairfield Toddler Ruled an Accident

The state medical examiner's office ruled Monday that the death of 21-month-old Neveah Bryant, who was mauled by three dogs while staying at her aunt’s house in West Haven last Friday, was accidental, according to a report in the CT Post.

Bryant, who recently moved to Fairfield with her family, died at Yale-New Haven Hospital following the attack. Reports say she was attacked while she was sleeping after three pit bulls escaped from a room in her aunt’s house.

The aunt, Erica Hobdy, was reportedly out doing errands and had left the toddler at home with other children when the incident took place. Police have not filed any charges and an investigation is still ongoing.

A wake will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., today, Wednesday, Oct. 4, in the , 39 South Benson Rd., Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 5, at , 545 Stratfield Rd., Fairfield, followed by a burial in , also in Fairfield, according to the CT Post.

Although earlier reports had indicated that Bryant lived in Derby, her obituary states she lived in Fairfield.

The incident has stirred up the ongoing debate over whether , or if it is the people who breed and train them. There is also an ongoing debate over whether dog owners should be held liable for their pets’ actions in such cases — and to what degree.

The dogs were reportedly euthanized because of the severity of the attack.

The debate over who is responsible for dog attacks has also heated up lately due to the increasing number of strays being found in area cities and suburbs: Dog owners, it seems, are increasingly abandoning their pets, perhaps due to the poor economy. and brought to the Fairfield Animal Shelter by Fairfield Animal Control on Oct. 1 — and there have been of stray or lost dogs during the past several months.