WASHINGTON, Nov 5, (Agencies): A heartbreaking incident occurred in Washington State on Halloween, resulting in the tragic loss of a child's life due to an attack by a family dog, according to the Spokane Police Department.

Shortly after 8 pm on Tuesday, authorities were called to the scene of an animal attack in Spokane, where they found a child who had been attacked by the family dog. Despite immediate efforts by officers and subsequent care provided by the Spokane Fire Department and American Medical Response, the child's injuries proved fatal.

In their attempts to protect the child, the family's efforts left the dog severely injured and beyond saving, leading authorities to euthanize the animal at the scene. The police have ruled out any criminal involvement in the incident, emphasizing that the dog attack had no connection to Halloween activities or trick-or-treating.

The young victim was a 4-year-old boy, and his identity will be determined by the medical examiner's office at a later time. In a gesture of support, a GoFundMe page has raised over $10,000 for the grieving family within just two days.

A neighbor, Roger Hammers, shared that his girlfriend, Jenna, was distributing Halloween candy when the incident unfolded, and the boy's family urgently sought assistance. Hammers, who works as a nurse with the elderly, mentioned that the boy resided with his grandparents on East Dalton Avenue, and the neighbors were unaware of the attack until the grandfather sought help.

Hammers described the child as "having some trouble breathing" and observed a substantial amount of blood loss when he found him in his grandmother's arms. He expressed the immense difficulty of witnessing the child's struggle for life, emphasizing the emotional toll it took.

The neighbor recounted that the dog, described as a pit bull mix, had never exhibited signs of aggression and would play with the boy in the family's yard. Hammers concluded with a sense of sorrow and condolences for the tragic outcome.

Another neighbor, Heather Sandy, conveyed her shock at such a distressing event occurring in their close-knit community. She fondly remembered the child as kind, loving, and full of energy, expressing the profound loss and grief shared by the entire neighborhood.