Cowra dog attack: Jyedon Pollard rushed to hospital by motel boss after Rottweiler, cattle dog bite

The devastated owner of the motel where a two-year-old boy was savagely mauled to death by his killer dogs can barely cope with the horror of the attack, admitting that ‘it’s all too much’. 

Jyedon Pollard was set upon by the Rottweiler and cattle dog in front of his mum, Kesha, and his sister at the Country Gardens Motor Inn at Cowra, in NSW‘s central-west, just after 10am on Tuesday.

The animals attacked Jyedon’s face and neck, causing lethal injuries before he was dragged free by motel owner Matt McIIIhatton.

Mr McIllhatton bundled the dying toddler up in a blood-soaked blanket and rushed him to hospital with the boy’s distraught mother, police have revealed.

The distraught family of Jyedon Pollard, 2, (pictured) who was savagely mauled at a motel by a pair of killer dogs, was already reeling from two earlier tragedies

Devastated motel owner Mat McIllhatton bundled up the dying toddler in a blood-soaked blanket and rushed him to hospital with the boy’s distraught mother, police revealed

The tot arrived at Cowra Hospital in a critical condition and was then airlifted to Westmead Hospital in Sydney where he died on Tuesday afternoon. 

On Wednesday, Mr McIllhatton was trying to help police and council investigators piece together the details of the tragedy but admitted that it was overwhelming. 

He told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Sorry… It’s all too much.’ 

Mr McIllhatton’s dogs were frequently seen around the motel but ‘appeared friendly’, according to neighbours.

Police are now probing claims that Jyedon was playing with the animals in an enclosed area when they suddenly attacked without warning.

The toddler was set upon by a Rottweiler and a cattle dog in front of his mum Kesha and his two sisters at the Country Gardens Motor Inn in Cowra, in NSW’s central-west, on Tuesday

Police have sealed off areas of the motel as a crime scene as they investigate the tragedy but revealed there were no witnesses as the attack happened at the back of the motel

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Police are now probing claims that Jyedon was playing with them in an enclosed area when they suddenly attacked without warning (pictured, an area at the rear of the motel with dog beds and food bowls)

Police revealed there were no witnesses as the attack happened at the back of the motel (pictured, an area at the rear of the motel with dog beds and food bowls)

One local told Nine News: ‘I saw the kids screaming. 

‘I looked out the window across the road and I saw some guy carrying a little kid who was absolutely screaming and people were panicked.’

Police have sealed off areas of the motel as a crime scene as they investigate the tragedy.

But there were no witnesses to the attack as it happened at the back of the motel. 

‘The two dogs were secured in a yard and what led to the attack will be investigated,’ Chifley police superintendent Bob Noble said.

‘It is an extremely unfortunate set of circumstances that led to this tragedy and it was a super-human effort to try to save his life.

‘It would be a horrific situation to be confronted by but he acted very bravely and very concisely.

‘Everyone is devastated when a child so young dies in such terrible fashion. It’s upsetting to a lot of people.’

On Wednesday morning, locals left a teddy bear wearing a Santa hat and two bouquets of flowers at the base of a tree outside the motel on Cowra’s Grenfell Rd.

On Wednesday morning, locals left a teddy bear wearing a Santa hat and two bouquets of flowers at the base of a tree outside the motel on Cowra’s Grenfell Rd

The devastated owner of the motel Matt McIllhatton where Jyedon Pollard, 2, was savagely mauled to death by killer dogs can barely cope with the horror of the attack

It’s the third heartbreak to hit the family, with Jyedon’s mother still grieving the loss of her aunt Neen last year and another relative mourning the loss of her own young son. 

Ms Pollard had been living at the motel temporarily with Jyedon and her two daughters, Aaliyah, 9, and Tahaleaha, 5, as they waited to move into a new home. 

The family had recently been living in a housing commission property in Cowra which was hit by devastating floods last week.

Ms Pollard mourned her aunt’s death in May 2021 in a touching post on Facebook: ‘My life will never be the same without all the coffees we had I will cherish forever.

‘You were my rock. I promise aunty Neen I will be forever grateful for everything you taught me.

‘Fly high my princess you may be gone but will always be here with me no matter what. I miss you so much.’

Relative Amanda Jayne Scott is still grieving the loss of her own young son

Ms Pollard’s relative Amanda Jayne Scott paid tribute to Jyedon on Facebook and revealed she is still grieving the loss of her own young son – but warned of the dangers of unpredictable dogs.

‘I’m so upset and angry – the poor parents,’ said relative Amanda Jayne Scott. 

‘This little boy was my son-in-law’s cousin.

‘RIP little man. My little boy is in heaven too and I’m sure he will be there to greet you with his Tonka truck.’

She added on Facebook: ‘It’s a darker day in Cowra today. Such heartbreaking news when we lose one of Cowra’s babies.

Amanda Jayne Scott revealed the family’s shock at the deadly attack on Jyedon on Facebook

‘I’m beyond angry that people continue to own these powerful dog breeds and allow them near children.’

A grieving relative said children had played with the dogs on numerous occasions without incident and they did not consider them a threat.

Neighbours said the dogs lived on the property and appeared docile.

‘The dogs seemed friendly,’ neighbour Gerard told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘They were always around. I can’t believe this has happened.

‘It’s very shocking. Very sad.’

A grieving relative said the children had played with the Rottweiler (stock picture) and cattle dog on numerous occasions without incident and did not consider them a threat

Local, Amy, brought a young girl and boy to the motel to leave their own tribute to the tragic toddler. 

‘We don’t know the family personally but we saw a post on Facebook calling for people to drop off teddies and flowers,’ she said.

‘It’s so heartbreaking.’

A family member described it as a ‘freak attack’ that happened ‘for no known reason’.

‘He’s the most precious and beautiful kid, no one can believe it’s happened to him,’ they said.

Two friends of the family, Takeia Whiting and Caitlin Makepeace, have now set up a GoFundMe page to help the family and pay for funeral arrangements

It had raised more than $5,000 within a few hours. 

‘We have taken it upon ourselves to start a GoFundMe page to help for any expenses upcoming and to help support Jyedon’s family,’ they posted.

Police are now probing how Jyedon allegedly came to be in the dog area 

‘Such a tragic loss, our town will mourn forever.’

Tributes flooded Ms Pollard’s social media pages after news of the boy’s death filtered through the tight-knit community.

‘Sending love and prayers to all your family,’ wrote one.

‘Such a terrible tragedy, a beautiful soul taken way to early. RIP little man.’

‘Thinking of you and your family,’ one posted. Another said: ‘OMG I’m so sorry’.

Others wrote: ‘My condolences to the family’ and ‘Fly high my friend’.

Investigations into the incident continue and a report will be prepared for the coroner 

Detectives have set up a crime scene and taped off the area but no charges have been laid.

Cowra Shire Council said its investigations were continuing.