On Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, a Southeast Texas boy was killed during a vicious dog attack involving two pit bulls at the house of a family friend, police said.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, five-year-old T. Smith was pronounced dead at a hospital in Beaumont just after the 7 p.m. attack in the nearby town of Vidor.

The loss of the sweet boy, who suffered from a rare heart defect, was a major blow to the small community, located about 95 miles outside of Houston.

The man who the boy's mom thought was watching her son outside was not present during the attack, deputies said. When the mom found out that her friend's father wasn't home, she went outside to check on her son and that's when she found his mauled body.

As soon as her friend's father learned what happened, he rushed home and killed the pit bulls, the Beaumont Enterprise reported.

This Wasn't the Pit Bulls' First Attack

Sadly, this wasn't the pit bulls' first attack on a child. In February 2015, the dogs were quarantined for 10 days after biting a 9-year-old girl. However, the dogs had been around other neighborhood children, including the homeowners' own grandchildren, without incident.

Friends and family will always remember Smith's love for his fellow students, basketball, monster trucks, and befriending an autistic boy at his school who would sometimes feel left out.

Were you bitten or attacked by a dog?

If you were attacked by someone else's dog, you should consider filing a personal injury claim. Unfortunately, a large percentage of dog attacks occur at the home or property of someone the victim knows or is close to.

Still, a claim can often be filed against the homeowners insurance policy, which can help the victim cover the costs of their medical bills, pain and suffering.

To learn more about dog bite claims, contact a personal injury lawyer!