UPDATE: The mother of the two boys attacked by the guard dogs says 12-year-old Jaeden is doing better, but 10-year-old Kaeden had to undergo another surgery Sunday to try to close the wounds to one of his arms that was mauled. Their mom, Ongelee Matthews, is taking unpaid time off of work to be with them. Click here if you'd like to make a donation to help the family cover some expenses.
Twelve-year-old Jaeden Matthews and his younger brother Kaeden, 10, wanted to run to the corner store before school Friday morning, but they ended up being chased by a stray dog.
The two brothers had no idea that on the other side of the fence they climbed to get away were two large pit bulls used to guard a welding shop.
This happened Friday morning on Puritan near Hubbell on Detroit's west side.
Jaeden and Kaeden screamed for help as the two dogs began to attack them both.
A girl who was also nearby began yelling for help.
Eljin Harris was on his way home from work when the girl got his attention. Harris didn't waste any time, risking his own life by jumping over the fence to try to save the two boys.
"My instinct kicked in. I wasn't even thinking," said Harris who heard one of the boys screaming that he didn't want to die.
Harris was able to fight off one of the dogs to free Kaeden and throw him over the fence to another man who stopped to help.
But Harris says the other dog that was attacking Jaeden was just too vicious and wouldn't let go of the boy.
Thankfully, Detroit Police were quick to arrive. The two officers jumped over the fence and they were able to get the dogs far enough away from the Jaeden to shoot and kill both dogs.
The two boys were rushed to Children's Hospital where they both underwent surgery.
The owner of the dogs says he's had the two pit bulls for a couple years to protect his business from thieves.
Omar Wyatt says he's had signs up to warn people that there are dogs behind the metal gate and privacy fence, but people keep tearing the signs down.
"My heart goes out," says Wyatt. "I think it's unfortunate what transpired with the boys. It was also unfortunate that they didn't know that in the midst of running from a stray dog that they were climbing a gate to where there were two other dogs."
The children's grandfather says he's not upset with the owner of the dogs. Angelo Matthews says the problem is that there are so many stray dogs in Detroit.
