Greer Tot Killed by Chained Dog
www.TheCarolinaChannel.com
September 2, 2004, GREER, S.C. -- Officials are investigating the mauling death of a Spartanburg County
toddler.
The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office said Isaiah Calandis Smith was playing in the yard of his New
Woodruff Road home while his mother was on the porch.
The mother told investigators that when she looked up and called for the boy to come inside, she saw the
19-month-old boy running toward four dogs chained in his grandfather's yard next door. As she ran after her
son, she said she heard one of the dogs growling.
The dog, a lab/pitbull mix, attacked the boy, biting him on the neck and back of the head and shaking him
before the mother could grab the dog.
"I put my fingers in the dog's mouth and my mom put her fingers in the dog's mouth. Then I stuck my fingers
in the dog's eyes and I think I hurt it. I pushed him to the side and grabbed my son," Scarlet Blackwelder
said.
Isaiah was transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where he died a few hours later. The
Spartanburg county coroner said the boy bled to death.
Officials said the dog and the boy were well aquainted and often played together.
"He meant a lot to us ... it just breaks my heart," Eddie Blackwelder said.
"It's undescribable. He was the love of my life. He was my heart my soul. He was the inspiration of my
family and he loved us. He was so smart and he was a good kid," Scarlett Blackwelder said.
Officials said no criminal charges will be filed in the incident. All four dogs are in the custody of the
Spartanburg County Humane Society. Blackwelder said they do not intend to get them back.
