On June 11, 2025, 15-year-old Makayla Fortner was brutally mauled to death in Saline County. She lost her life on a property where the owners hoarded and neglected over 40 dogs, forcing authorities to humanely euthanize 14 animals immediately following the tragedy.

Under current Arkansas law (A.C.A. § 5-62-125), a dog attack resulting in a human fatality is only prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor. This light penalty fails to deliver justice, carrying a maximum sentence of just one year in jail. Because the law has no real teeth, it does nothing to prevent repeat offenders from continuing their dangerous behavior.

The nightmare is happening again right now in Saline County. Active video footage from the past year proves that the exact same property owners are already hoarding a new pack of dogs. These animals are routinely escaping, roaming the neighborhood, and creating a severe public safety crisis. When terrified neighbors call local law enforcement, they are told that current state statutes tie their hands, leaving residents with the dangerous advice to simply "shoot the dogs" if they enter their property.

We, the undersigned residents of Saline County and citizens of Arkansas, refuse to wait for another tragedy. We demand that Representative R.J. Hawk and Senator Kim Hammer sponsor and pass "Makayla’s Law" in the upcoming legislative session to:

Create a Felony Tier:

Elevate a fatal attack to a Class C or Class B felony when the owner has a documented history of hoarding, neglect, or prior containment citations.

Enforce Lifetime Bans: Mandate a strict, lifetime ban on owning or harboring any domesticated canine for anyone convicted under this law.

Trigger Immediate Intervention: Include an emergency clause so law enforcement can permanently remove animals from chronic, known offenders before another person is killed.