One of my coworkers is at the hospital today - her 4 year old daughter got mauled by an Akita. The family was over at their son's friend's house. Mia, the little daughter, apparently slipped and fell over the porch (the exact details are a little fuzzy on how she toppled) and into the penned area where the dog was kept. Her head split open, and she screamed.
The dog, excited by the screams and the unfamiliar child, rushed over and attacked her, biting her tiny face open. The owner's son pulled the dog off her. Mia's older brother (about 7 years old) witnessed the entire incident, went into shock, and to be treated at the hospital as well. The dog is under quarantine, fate to be determined. Mia has over 100 stitches from her fall and dog bites (a special surgeon was called in to do tiny stitches on her face that wouldn't leave nasty scars).
I'm surprised the boy managed to pull the dog off Mia and not get harmed - I would've figured the taste of blood and adrenaline rush in the dog would've made the dog snap at the boy as well. My first reaction to the story was "shoot the darn dog". But even if I was there, even with my gun already drawn, I probably couldn't have done a thing, at least not to prevent the dog bites. The incident went down fast and caught everyone off guard. The dog, according to the owner is "friendly towards children and never bit anyone before".
One of my old classmates was mauled by a German Shepard when she was a kid - he practically "swallowed her head" as she described it. Even in her mid 20's now, she still has permanent fears of the smallest pooch. I hope Mia doesn't end up with the same fear of all dogs.
The dog, excited by the screams and the unfamiliar child, rushed over and attacked her, biting her tiny face open. The owner's son pulled the dog off her. Mia's older brother (about 7 years old) witnessed the entire incident, went into shock, and to be treated at the hospital as well. The dog is under quarantine, fate to be determined. Mia has over 100 stitches from her fall and dog bites (a special surgeon was called in to do tiny stitches on her face that wouldn't leave nasty scars).
I'm surprised the boy managed to pull the dog off Mia and not get harmed - I would've figured the taste of blood and adrenaline rush in the dog would've made the dog snap at the boy as well. My first reaction to the story was "shoot the darn dog". But even if I was there, even with my gun already drawn, I probably couldn't have done a thing, at least not to prevent the dog bites. The incident went down fast and caught everyone off guard. The dog, according to the owner is "friendly towards children and never bit anyone before".
One of my old classmates was mauled by a German Shepard when she was a kid - he practically "swallowed her head" as she described it. Even in her mid 20's now, she still has permanent fears of the smallest pooch. I hope Mia doesn't end up with the same fear of all dogs.