Child Tragically Attacked by Former K9 in Burlington

From KKTV in Colorado

By Aspen Andrews

Published: Aug. 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM MDT|Updated: 2 hours ago

BURLINGTON, Colo. (KKTV) - A 3-year-old girl, the daughter of a Colorado police chief, was killed in a dog attack involving a former K9, according to the Burlington Police Department.

The Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office (KCCSO) said dispatchers received a report of a child being attacked by a dog on Monday. When the sheriff and a deputy arrived on scene, they said they found a mother and her unresponsive 3-year-old girl in the backyard of the home.

When officials arrived, they say the dog was not actively attacking and was secured in a kennel.

The girl was taken to a local hospital, where KCCSO said she was pronounced dead.

The dog was taken to the Burlington Dog Pound, where the sheriff’s office said it was euthanized.

Deputies say the dog was a German Shepherd who was previously a K9 with the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office said the dog was taken out of service due to the end of the department’s K9 program.

According to deputies, the dog was not trained in bite work, and the dog was donated to the Burlington Police Department but was not in service.

They say Burlington Police Chief Nathan Hill was taking care of the dog in his home at the time of the attack.

The Burlington Police Department confirmed Chief Hill’s daughter was killed in the dog attack.

Police say the Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating the attack, but say this was a “tragic incident and not a criminal matter.”

The attack is under investigation.

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Press Release from Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Department