RALEIGH, N.C. — Chris and Brittany Wells are leaning on family, friends and neighbors for support after their 22-month-old son Ryder was attacked by a friend's Rottweiler on Friday morning.
The family was in Raleigh visiting friends for the holiday when it happened.
Family members told Channel 9 the child crawled through a doggie door into the backyard where the dogs were.
His mother told Raleigh ABC affiliate WTVD-TV things got suddenly got quiet.
"I sat down maybe a minute,” Brittany Wells said. “We're talking, I mean a minute, and I didn't hear him playing in the hallway anymore. Quiet is never good."
A neighbor, Robert Cotton, said he heard the mother's anguish when she found her child in the yard.
"She was hysterical, saying 'My baby's dead, my baby's dead,'” Cotton said. “I never heard the baby cry, never saw nothing moving. It was just a sad situation."
The boy's grandmother Angelia Canipe talked to Channel 9 by phone Monday and said the attack surprised everyone.
"The dog had never shown any type of aggression toward anyone before. It's just something that we would call a freak accident," she said.
The dog's owner is a family friend, who was also devastated by what happened. Amber, who didn't want her last name used, said she'll do whatever she can for the child.
"I love that dog with all my heart but this is unacceptable and this isn't something that can be forgiven," she said.
Canipe saw her grandson in the hospital in Raleigh on Sunday night. She said he's in pain but she saw lots of hopeful signs that the toddler will recover.
“He did squeeze my finger when I was talking to him and he's alert. He can hear you," she said.
However, Canipe said Ryder will have a long road to recovery. He's already had two surgeries, and will likely need several more.
Canipe wants to thank fans of local band Blackberry Smoke, who are joining others to help the family during this time.
A Facebook group was created to provide updates on Ryder’s condition.
Raleigh police said the attack was an accident and they don't expect to file any charges.
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