LAFAYETTE, OR -- An 11-year-old boy was bitten on the upper right arm by a pit bull mix Thursday at Wascher Elementary School.
Yamhill County Sheriff's Capt. Ken Summers identified him as Nivardo Ramirez-Monge of 836 Seventh St. Summers said he was transported by McMinnville Fire Department ambulance to the Willamette Valley Medical Center, where he was scheduled for surgery.
The 1-1/2 year-old dog belongs to Lafayette resident Jesus Romero Avalos of 310 Sixth St., according to Summers. It was surrendered to Yamhill County Dog Control for a 10-day quarantine.
"He hasn't had the dog long and didn't know if it has had its shots," Summers said. "The dog could be put down or it could be released back to its owner," he said.
No citations were issued at the scene because Avalos had the dog on a leash, remained at the scene and quickly brought the dog under control.
Summers gave this account:
The boy dropped his scooter by the dog as it was being walked by its owner at Wascher Elementary.
As the boy reached down to pick it up, the dog bit his arm. Avalos responded by immediately pulling the dog back by its leash.
A Yamhill Communications Agency dispatcher requested a "delta" level response - the highest available - on the part of medical personnel. The boy was interviewed by deputies at the hospital, and photographs were taken of his wound. Interviews with the dog owner and other witnesses were conducted.
"On the surface, it doesn't look like the dog was provoked," Summers said. "The boy went to pick his scooter up and that startled the dog."
In an unrelated incident, a 50-pound pit bull killed a small dog in an unfenced back yard Wednesday night in Salem. Police said the owner of the smaller dog suffered bites on her hand trying to save her pet.
The owner of the smaller dog said the pit bull ran into her backyard, seized her dog by the head and began shaking it.
The pit bull was captured and taken to Marion County Dog Control. Officers went door-to-door in the neighborhood, but were not immediately able to locate or identify the owner.
The dog was wearing a collar, but no tags.
(News Register - July 9, 2011)
