I lived my worst nightmare when my girl, 10, was mauled by neighbour’s pitbulls – they dragged her away by her face

A WOMAN has revealed how her 10-year-old daughter was mauled by two Pitbulls last month. Kimberly Boeckler, 32, from Okeechobee, Florida, found her little girl, Raegan Boeckler-Wend, now aged 12, covered in blood after the horrific attack. Kimberly Boeckler’s daughter Raegan was attacked by pitbulls on a playdate Credit: True Life Stories Raegan survived the attacked but suffered eight gaping bite wounds Credit: True Life Stories Raegan had just finished a playdate with a neighbour and was getting on her bike when their Pitbulls ravaged her. By miracle, she survived the nearly fatal attack, and is on the mend. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! But her mother is now speaking out to raise awareness of irresponsible dog owners. Kimberly, a delivery driver, says: “My Raegan is an incredible girl, who got a second chance at life. She’s lucky to be alive. Raegan had been a dog lover since she was little, even having a pet pitbull Credit: True Life Stories Kimberley says Raegan had blood gushing out of her head, face, arms, back and legs Credit: True Life Stories “I lived my worst nightmare. People need to become more responsible dog owners so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.” When single mum-of-one, Kimberly, was bringing her daughter up, the family had a Pitbull of her their own. Kimberly says: “Over the years, we’ve had a pet Pitbull at home with us, who we adore. We’d bottle-feed her and put pacifiers in her mouth. “As a single mum living in the countryside, I felt safe to have a dog protect my family. But it’s essential for them to have training and be properly looked after. Most read in Fabulous “Since she was a little girl, Raegan was a huge dog lover.” But last month, in November 2023, Raegan came home from school with a friend who lived a few doors down from the family in their hometown, Okeechobee. Kimberly says: “Her friend, who came over most days, told me they had new puppies and begged me to let Raegan meet them. “I told Raegan she could go meet them and be home for dinner shortly. I asked her to send me photos of the puppies. “All excited, they hopped onto their bikes and left to her house for a quick playdate.” But two minutes before Raegan was due home, Kimberly called her mobile. Raegan’s friend answered and Kimberly heard Raegan screaming in the background. Kimberly says: “Her friend told me Raegan had been attacked by the dogs. “In that moment, my soul left my body. I dropped everything and rushed over and saw Raegan stood in their front garden, in a pool of blood. “She had blood gushing out of her head, face, arms, back and legs. Raegan recovered in hospital but she was left with PTSD Credit: True Life Stories Kimberley said Raegan is on the mend but has been scarred for life Credit: True Life Stories “There was flesh hanging out from her arm and back. It was my worst nightmare.” Soon Kimberly discovered that the family had baby Pitbulls, and as Raegan was leaving to get on her bike, their two adult mother Pitbulls bit her. The mother dog then broke loose and started attacking her too. They bit her all over her legs, bottom, and private area before Raegan fell to her knees. Reagan lifted her arms to protect her face, so her arms were ravaged. The dogs then dragged Raegan by her face onto the grass and bit her head. The people home managed to get the dogs back into their cages. Although Reagan was alive, she was losing a lot of blood, and had eight gaping bite wounds. Kimberly says: “I scooped her into my arms, wrapped a t-shirt around her arm wound and sped her to the hospital. “I was hysterical and couldn’t believe what was happening. My heart broke for my baby girl. “At the hospital, they warned me Raegan might get rabies and I was beside myself. Reagan was physically and mentally tortured by the attack too. “Despite the surgeries, she developed an infection on the wound in her private area, which was terrifying.” Not long after, animal control arrived at the triage unit at HCA Florida Raulerson Hospital and took information from Kimberly. After Raegan was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Kimberly says: “I begged them to euthanise the dogs. My daughter had nearly been killed. I worried another child on my street would be next.” For the next two weeks, little Raegan recovered in hospital, but she was left with PTSD and was unable to speak about the attack much. Kimberly says: “I kept asking her questions, but she would just cry and say how every time she closed her eyes, she saw the dogs biting her. “She really needed therapy and so did I. It wasn’t just about the physical pain she was in, it was more mental. “People tried to make us feel better by saying how lucky she was, but they didn’t understand the trauma she’d been through.” Now, Reagan’s recovering at home, and is on the mend. But she has been left scarred for life. Kimberly says: “I’m relieved she protected her face but the worst was the arms and back. “At first Raegan felt ugly, but now she sees her scars as a sign of strength a story to tell what she went through. Her dream is to be a make-up artist. “With our Pitbull at home, who we still love and adore, Raegan does get scared at times. Every time she hears a bark, it can bring it all back up for her. “But I don’t want her to dislike dogs. The only thing anyone should be upset with is irresponsible dog owners. “Those dogs that attacked her was poorly kept and more should’ve been done. “She has since returned to school and all the children wrote her letters and gave her presents. “Her friend, who she had the playdate with, wrote her a letter saying she wished it happened to her instead. “I’ve since found out the parents weren’t even home and they left their oldest child in charge that day. “I’m angry they didn’t put the dogs down, it’s not worth the risk. Police think the mother dog might’ve attacked on instinct, protecting her newborn puppies. “The neighbours have since surrendered the dogs to animal control due to their aggressive behaviour. “I love Pitbulls and always will. What’s awful is bad, aggressive breed dog owners. Stray dogs running, off-leash pets and lack of warning signs on homes are a huge issue. “Parents are scared to send their kids to school in my area because of this. Who else will this happen to? More awareness needs to happen. “I’m so relieved my daughter’s alive but it’s not enough.” Comment now