Two pit bulls are euthanized after killing two kids and mauling mother in their Tennessee home

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The two pit bulls who fatally attacked two young children and mauled their mother have been euthanized. 

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office announced the two dogs, Mia and Cheech, have been euthanized after Wednesday’s gruesome attack at their family’s Sylvan Road home, near Memphis. 

Mia and Cheech were a part of the family for eight years without any violent incidents. Eight years ago, Colby shared a picture of two pit bulls on Facebook and referred to the animals as ‘house lions’ while chatting with Kirstie.

It is unclear if those are the same dogs behind Wednesday’s attack. 

The dogs fatally attacked Hollace Dean Bennard, five months, and Lilly Jane Bennard, two, around 3.30pm on Wednesday. 

Their mother, Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, of Millington, has been hospitalized since. Her condition has changed from critical to stable. 

Bennard’s husband of five years, Colby, who manages a Harley-Davidson dealership in Memphis, was unharmed. It is unclear where he was at the time of the attack.

Bennard’s in-law Jeff Gibson said in a Facebook post that the attack lasted ’10 minutes’ and ‘she never gave up trying to save these babies.’ 

Her best friend, Kelsey Gallini told Fox News: ‘That attack lasted longer than any one of us could have ever imagined. I can promise you those children were her world, and if there was any inkling of danger, she would have never had those dogs near her kids.

‘Those children were everything to them, and they just have a really long journey ahead.’ 

DailyMail.com reached out to Gallini for comment, but she declined. 

Mia and Cheech were a part of the family for eight years without any violent incidents

Mia and Cheech were a part of the family for eight years without any violent incidents  

Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, of Millington (right) was left with 'uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body, including her face' and both her 'arms and legs are bandaged/wrapped up completely.' She fought off the dogs for 10 minutes

 Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, of Millington (right) was left with ‘uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body, including her face’ and both her ‘arms and legs are bandaged/wrapped up completely.’ She fought off the dogs for 10 minutes 

Hollace Dean Bennard, five months, and Lilly Jane Bennard, two, were pronounced dead at the scene after being attacked

Hollace Dean Bennard, five months, and Lilly Jane Bennard, two, were pronounced dead at the scene after being attacked

Bennard has since woken up and was said to be ‘initially confused,’ but is now ‘aware’ of what happened. 

Gibson also revealed the mother-of-two has an ‘uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body, including her face’ and that both her ‘arms and legs are bandaged/wrapped up completely.’ 

Gibson, who called the mother a ‘f**king hero,’ said her injuries won’t cause ‘any permanent damage, other than a heart that will never heal.’ 

Little Lilly looks at her baby brother in a recent picture the family shared. A family friend said the children 'worshipped each other'

Little Lilly looks at her baby brother in a recent picture the family shared. A family friend said the children ‘worshipped each other’ 

Lilly wears a unicorn outfit while her grandfather Michael holds hers in an old photo

Lilly wears a unicorn outfit while her grandfather Michael holds hers in an old photo 

A family friend told DailyMail.com on Thursday that the respiratory therapist is 'hanging in there,' but declined to speak further. The father Colby (right) was reportedly unharmed

A family friend told DailyMail.com on Thursday that the respiratory therapist is ‘hanging in there,’ but declined to speak further. The father Colby (right) was reportedly unharmed

Eight years ago, Colby Bennard shared a photo of two pit bulls and referred to them as 'house lions,' although it's unclear if these are the killer pets

It is unclear if the dogs photographed by the family are the same dogs behind Wednesday's attack

The family has posted pictures of the animals (pictured in 2016 and 2017) on their social media, showing the dogs around their home 

The two small children ‘worshipped each other,’ according to Gallini. 

‘They were perfect, they were beautiful,’ she told Fox. 

The children’s autopsies are still pending, Fox News reported. Family friend Debbie Harvey told DailyMail.com that funeral details have not been released, but there will be a candlelight vigil soon. 

A family friend started a GoFundMe page for the family to help them ‘get back on their feet.’ It has raised almost $29,000 in one day, surpassing the $20,000 goal, which has been raised at least twice already. 

The attack happened around 3.30pm on Wednesday inside the family’s $360,000, five-bedroom Sylvan Road home in Millington, Tennessee – near Memphis. 

Gallini posted on Facebook asking for ‘prayers,’ saying ‘everyone in her circle could really use that.’ 

‘I love you, I love you, I love you,’ she wrote in a separate post. 

 

Her friends took to Facebook to offer their prayers and send her their love

Her friends took to Facebook to offer their prayers and send her their love

Gallini also revealed in a comment to a WREG Facebook post about the tragedy that she was furious news outlets were covering the attack, questioning why ‘something so traumatic and unimaginable [had] to be so publicized.’ 

Friend Lacie Snider replied to the social media post, writing: ‘I feel like the phone call I had with Caitlin [Killebrew] wasn’t real.’ Killebrew is another friend of the family.

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Killebrew wrote, alongside a photo of the two at her wedding: ‘My sweet friend – I love you.’ 

Another wrote: ‘Praying so hard! Shock is an understatement!’ 

Many others said they were ‘heartbroken,’ ‘dumbfounded,’ and sending ‘big prayers.’ 

Pit bulls are known for having one of the strongest bites, alongside Mastiffs and Rottweilers, according to the Canine Journal

The breed is also on the journal’s list of dogs that bite the most, alongside Chihuahuas, German Shepherds, and Cocker Spaniels.   

The Sheriff's Office at the scene on Wednesday. Pit bulls are known for having one of the strongest bites, alongside Mastiffs and Rottweilers, according to the Canine Journal

The Sheriff’s Office at the scene on Wednesday. Pit bulls are known for having one of the strongest bites, alongside Mastiffs and Rottweilers, according to the Canine Journal

The children were pronounced dead at the scene. Their mother was also severely injured

The children were pronounced dead at the scene. Their mother was also severely injured

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