The 3-year-old boy suffered at least one injury in the area of his face and neck when he was attacked shortly after 9:30 a.m., according Lt. Joe Efflandt of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.
The extent his injuries was not immediately known, but they were not believed to be life-threatening, Efflandt said, adding initial fears were that the boy was bitten in the throat.
"It was strictly an accident, an unfortunate accident," Efflandt said, adding no charges were expected.
The boy was identified only as the visiting nephew of the homeowner and was taken by helicopter to Children's Hospital Los Angeles on Sunset Boulevard.
Paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department called for a helicopter to meet them at nearby Golden Valley High School, a spokesman said.
Lori Mazzoco and Jill Maxfield, whose husbands are both firefightes and whose sons were both Hart High School students entered in a linebacker competition at the high school, saw the boy being loaded onto the helicopter.
"A woman who looked like the mom was frantic," Mazzocco said. "A man who looked like the dad was there too, but only one could go on the chopper."
The woman joined the boy in the helicopter.
"The boy was on a stretcher with a neck brace," she said. "His legs were wrapped. His eyes were open.
"The air squad was there a total of five minutes," she said.
"They told us to get off the field because a helicopter was landing," said a member of the team. "And, we did what we were told."
The homeowner surrendered the dog to Animal Control officers who, according to Efflandt, are expected to make a decision as to its fate.
(Santa Clarita Valley Signal - June 25, 2011)
