Unregistered pit bulls that killed 3-year-old boy, injured his mom lived nearby, mayor says – NJ.com

Two pit bulls that entered a Carteret backyard on Tuesday, attacking and killing a 3-year-old boy and injuring his mother were not registered with the borough, officials said Wednesday.

The boy’s mother remains hospitalized on Wednesday, Carteret Mayor Daniel J. Reiman said in a statement. Both dogs have been euthanized, a spokesman for the mayor said .

The dogs that got into the family’s fenced backyard on East Laurel Street came from a home on Birch Street, about two blocks away, the mayor said.

The boy was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where he died of his injuries, the mayor said. He has not been identified.

“As a small community, our Carteret family mourns the heart-wrenching loss of our young neighbor and we pray for this young mother and family in this time of unimaginable grief,” Reiman said.

Donations for the family can be made through Carteret’s non-profit charity at https://carteret-charity-trust-fund.square.site.

Checks may also be mailed to: Charity Trust Fund at Carteret Borough Hall, 61 Cooke Avenue, Carteret NJ 07008 or dropped in the lock box in front of the building.

Borough officials also urged residents to register their dogs.

“All residents receive a mailer each year with information on how to register their pets and to ensure rabies and distemper vaccinations.

Neighbors told WABC-TV the dogs were known to bite residents in the area. It was unclear if there were any prior complaints made to borough officials about the dogs.

A Carteret spokesman referred questions about the 4:30 p.m. incident to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, which declined to offer additional information on Wednesday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call Carteret police Det. Anthony Ramos at 732-541-4181 or Det. Mark Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4194.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.