Investigation into dog attack that killed N.S. boy continuing, RCMP say

Nova Scotia RCMP say a Rottweiler and 2 lambaste Corsos were the trinity large-breed dogs involved in a fatal attack on a teenage boy in Shelburne County, N.S., on the weekend.

Police were called to a report of a dog attack just after 5 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of Upper Sandy Cove Road in Welshtown. Once there, first responders learned 13-year-old Drew Nickerson had been mauled by the dogs while riding a bicycle.

The boy, a Grade 8 student at Shelburne Regional High School, was airlifted to a Halifax hospital where he later died.

In a news release, police described the incident as "extremely distressing and tragic."

RCMP said they have been gathering and analyzing video footage, conducting door-to-door canvassing and interviewing people about the dogs' "day-to-day movements," the release said.

The RCMP noted the dog owners have been co-operative throughout their investigation. The dogs were euthanized by a veterinarian, an earlier release said.

Police said anyone with information on the incident should contact Shelburne District RCMP at 902‑875‑2490.

A southwest Nova Scotia scallop fisher has put together a fundraising raffle in support of Nickerson's family.

Conway Hutt told The Canadian Press he didn't know the boy, but when he heard about the tragedy he knew there was a family that needed support.

He put up 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds) of scallops, which another fisher quickly matched with 4.5 kilograms of lobster. By Tuesday evening, dozens of items had been donated including hundreds of dollars in gift cards, hand-crocheted blankets, and drone photography services.

"As of about 8 o'clock [Tuesday] night, we hit like 80 different items," Hutt said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Wednesday.

"So at that point, that was way more than we ever expected. So I just stopped taking donations at that point and just asked them to make money contributions or buy tickets."

Several seafood companies challenged each other to match donations for Hutt's fundraising raffle, and there's now thousands of dollars worth of fresh fish available with a draw set for later this month. Hutt said he's sold tickets to people in Ontario and British Columbia, showing how far the story of the tragedy has reached.

"If they win, like, 10 vans of lobster I told them I'm not delivering them," said Hutt, who was preparing to go to the bank for a certified cheque to deliver to the boy's mother.

An online fundraising campaign launched by the boy's aunt was originally set at $40,000. By midday Wednesday, The Canadian Press reported nearly 800 people had donated almost $50,000 with the overall goal adjusted to $70,000. The campaign post says the Shelburne Regional High School student was a friend to many, sharing a passion for horses with his mom, along with all-terrain vehicles and anything outside.

"Our community is absolutely devastated by this loss," said the post.

An online statement from the boy's family thanked the community for the "overwhelming" fundraising support, noting the boy's grandparents plan to pay for the funeral.

A post from his soccer team, Southwest Blast FC, said the boy found great joy in the sport including an under-13 championship, "a moment that meant so much to him and those around him."

"[He] will also be remembered for his bright smile, kindness, sense of humour and the light he brought to every space he entered," said the post.

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