Donations pour in for grieving mom as RCMP investigate fatal dog attack in Shelburne
Shelburne District RCMP continue to investigate a fatal dog attack in Shelburne County. (Vlad Vasnetsov via Pixabay)
People all along the South Shore and across Nova Scotia are showing support for a grieving mother of a 13-year-old boy who died after a dog attack in Shelburne County on Saturday.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Dawn Nickerson, the mother of Drew Nickerson, who was a student at Shelburne Regional High School.
Drew died in a Halifax hospital after he was mauled by three dogs around 5 p.m. on Jan. 3, according to Shelburne District RCMP.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the online fundraiser had raised almost $65,000 of its $70,000 goal.
“Our community is absolutely devastated by this loss,” organizer Trish Harris wrote on the page.
“My hope is to ease any financial burden so his mom can focus on grieving and healing during this unimaginable time. “
Shelburne District RCMP are still investigating the attack that involved two Cane Corsos and a Rottweiler.
RCMP say the three large dogs attacked Drew as he was riding his bicycle past a property on Upper Sandy Cove Road in Welshtown.
“This is an extremely distressing and tragic incident for everyone involved,” Staff Sgt. Mark Macpherson of Shelburne District RCMP said in a news release.
“Our thoughts are with the youth’s loved ones as they process their heartbreaking loss.”
The dogs were euthanized by a local veterinarian after the attack.
No charges have been laid, though RCMP say they continue to investigate. They’re gathering and analyzing video footage of the area, going door-to-door in the community and interviewing several people about the dogs’ behaviour before the attack.
“Our team is working through several investigative steps to fully understand what happened and to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack,” Staff Sgt. Macpherson said.
“Community members have been very supportive of our work, and the dog owners have been co-operative throughout.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Shelburne District RCMP at 902‑875‑2490.