Tragic Death of Seven-Year-Old Boy After Shelter Rehomed 'Monster' Pit Bull
A devastating incident in Colorado has resulted in the death of a seven-year-old boy, Leelan Lokie, who was viciously attacked by a pit bull with a known troubled history that was rehomed through an animal shelter. The fatal mauling occurred inside the family home in Gunnison, Colorado, on February 4, involving an 86-pound dog named Boaz.
Police Response and Severe Attack Classification
According to a police report obtained by KDVR, officers arrived at the scene to find the pit bull locked onto the young boy's neck. One officer was forced to discharge their firearm, causing the animal to release its grip. Leelan was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Investigators have classified this horrific event as a Level 6 attack on the Dunbar Bite Scale, which represents the most severe category of dog bites.
Shelter's Troubled History with the Animal
The pit bull, Boaz, had previously been fostered through the Montrose Animal Shelter, where staff documented significant behavioral issues. Emails between shelter workers and city staff, reviewed by The Colorado Sun, revealed growing concerns about the dog's potential for violence. One shelter employee explicitly described Boaz as "a monster," warning that he wanted to attack every dog in the kennel and that nobody should take him into a family home.
Despite these alarming reports, the Montrose Bully Breed Club intervened, advocating for the dog's rehoming and assuring city officials of its good temperament. Shelter staff had initially planned to euthanize Boaz after incidents in December and January, including one where the dog fractured a volunteer's wrist and another where it lunged at another dog. Instead, the Montrose Bully Breed Club placed Boaz with Leelan's mother, Kirsten.
Conflicting Information and Family's Involvement
It remains unclear how much Kirsten Lokie knew about Boaz's aggressive history. She responded to a Facebook post from Montrose Animal Services in December, which described the dog as "fantastic with children" and a "lovable goofball," though the post included a disclaimer that the information was provided by another agency. The Colorado Sun reported that Kirsten agreed to foster Boaz after seeing this social media appeal.
Internal communications from the shelter painted a starkly different picture. One email expressed worry that adoption could lead to "unfortunate outcomes," such as biting incidents or even death. Another text message lamented, "It’s like we are waiting for an accident to happen to reason for euthanasia, and that’s not good, because some one or some dog may be injured or even dead."
Aftermath and Community Support
Following the tragedy, a GoFundMe fundraiser was launched to assist Kirsten and Leelan's older brother, Uriah, with funeral expenses and relocation costs. The campaign has raised over $137,000, reflecting widespread community sympathy. Gunnison Police announced on Tuesday that no criminal charges would be filed, deeming the case "noncriminal."
The Montrose Bully Breed Club described Leelan's death as "an incomprehensible and unforeseeable tragedy" and has since paused its Facebook page. This heartbreaking event underscores critical issues in animal shelter protocols and the rehoming of dogs with documented behavioral problems, raising questions about accountability and safety measures in pet adoption processes.
