Child killed in Garner dog attack was daughter of WRAL-TV employee

Jayden was the daughter of Trevaskis and Dave Henderson and big sister to Ryleigh.

At WRAL, she was known for her love of hide-and-seek, often playing among the desks in the newsroom on those visits. She and her family were regulars at CBC events – the annual Easter Egg Hunt and children's Christmas party.

Jayden died at WakeMed of injuries suffered in the attack. Trevaskis suffered multiple bites and severe hand injuries.

Jayden was a first-grader at Vandora Springs Elementary School. In a letter sent home to families, the school said grief counselors would be available to her classmates.

Garner police say mother and daughter were helping care for the dogs while the owners were out of town. The attack happened in the owners' backyard.

Police say they’ve never fielded any complaints about those dogs in the past, and neighbors told WRAL News that they’ve had no issues with the dogs either. The attack was a shocking situation for everyone involved.

Because of short staffing at Garner Animal Control, the dogs were seized by Wake County Animal Control and taken to the Wake County Animal Shelter, where they will be kept in "bite quarantine," a kind of solitary confinement used after any serious dog bite.

Ultimately, Wake County will return the dogs to Garner Animal Control, and that agency will decide what happens to them.

Dr. Jennifer Federico, Wake County animal services director, told WRAL News that 70% of dog attacks involve child victims who are known to the dog. Only rarely are those attacks fatal.

She said, "The biggest thing that people need to know is children are the most at risk for dog bites, especially fatal dog bites. They’re at the dog's level. They’re smaller, and just their natural behaviors of being a kid."

Latest research shows dog breeds that bite most often, do most damage