A devastating incident has shocked the island of Zakynthos, Greece, after a two-year-old boy was fatally attacked by a pit bull temporarily housed by his family. The attack occurred in the backyard of their home in Agios Leon while the boy was momentarily unsupervised. The attack reportedly lasted less than 30 seconds.

According to Leon’s mother,  she and her husband, Lucas, had briefly gone inside their home after returning from shopping. During that time, Leon approached the dog, which had previously been friendly and well-cared-for. The pit bull was secured with a 10-meter chain near a forested area where hunters were using firearms and whistles. Robby believes the sudden noise frightened the dog, triggering the fatal attack .

Robby described the dog as having no history of aggression. “It never showed any problem since we rescued it,” she said, noting that Leon often played gently with the dog, petting it and interacting safely. She added that the boy was “the dream of any mother” and “the most loving child,” whose joy touched everyone around him.

According to reports, the child approached the dog, which then bit him repeatedly, targeting his head, face, and neck. His father managed to pull him from the dog’s grip and rushed him to the hospital, but despite the efforts of medical staff, the boy did not survive.

Despite widespread media reports, Robby emphasized that she and her husband are not facing criminal charges. Authorities have confiscated the pit bull while the investigation continues.

The family’s grief has been compounded by the suddenness of the tragedy. Robby said, “It all happened in 30 seconds. We never thought this could happen… before his second birthday, he was full of life and joy.”

The pit bull, described as a stray found near the home two months earlier, had been taken in by the family temporarily until a permanent adopter could be found. The dog was typically chained outdoors, and neighbors reported no prior official complaints regarding aggression. A veterinarian will now assess the animal, and a five-member committee from Patras will determine whether it should remain in a shelter or be euthanized, based on its behavior.

Neighbors described the family as passionate animal lovers who had rescued dozens of stray dogs over the past four years, maintaining a small shelter on their property.

Witnesses recounted harrowing scenes at the moment of the attack. One neighbor said: “The father was covered in blood, holding his son who had been mauled by the dog… he was screaming, crying, and hitting the ground in despair.”

The father told authorities that the dog had been taken in to provide temporary care until adoption and was tied in the area where the incident occurred. He described the moment of loss: “The dog saw my child, he smiled at me… and he died.”