KOTZEBUE, Alaska, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A Kotzebue, Alaska, boy, 5, was found mauled to death by a dog or dogs after being reported missing from his front yard, police said.
Jordan Lee Reed was reported missing on Saturday evening, and after a search by local police, fire and search and rescue personnel was found dead early Sunday morning in a field on the outskirts of Kotzebue, police said in a statement.
"It is believed that he was killed by at least one loose dog. The police department captured several loose dogs in the area, one of which was determined to have been involved in the mauling," the statement said.
Loose dogs have been an increasing problem in this northwest arctic town of 3,200, Mayor Nathan Kotch said, noting it has only one animal control officer.
The dogs on the loose include fugitives es from sled-dog "musher's lots" and pets whose owners are not watching them, the Anchorage Daily News reported Monday.
