CALIFORNIA -- A pit bull attacked a 5-year-old Linda girl on Monday and was shot in the face by a neighbor.
Tiare Faulpula was hospitalized at Rideout Memorial Hospital and received stitches to her face and wrist, the Yuba County Sheriff's Department reported.
"She's going to be OK, but we're all really shook up," said DeAna Borjesson, the Linda resident who shot the dog after it came into her backyard where several small children were playing.
The child's mother, Selina Faulp la, could not be reached for comment.
"It could've been really ugly, really fast," Borjesson said.
The family that owns the dog said there has never been any problems before Monday.
"She's a good dog. Good with kids — she loves kids. It's a family dog," said Ashley Gomes, who lives with the animal.
The dog, a 2-year-old pit bull named Frajya, was shot once in the face with a compact .25-caliber pistol. The animal is expected to recover, but the bullet will likely remain lodged in its nose, Gomes said.
The weapon has been taken for evidence, Lt. Damon Gil said.
However, Gil said it is unlikely any criminal charges will be filed in connection with the attack.
"We don't appear to have any reports, at this point, of any other problems with the dog," Gil said. "And (Borjesson) certainly appears to have been defending her children."
Around 2:15 p.m. Monday, four small children were playing in the backyard of Borjesson's home in the 1900 block of Pyramid Creek Drive. Borjesson said she saw the dog bite the child, and immediately scooped up the other children and put them inside before she grabbed her gun.
The dog is owned by Misty McVey, who lives behind Borjesson in the 1900 block of Whitewater Drive and shares a backyard fence with Borjesson. Both blame each other for the hole in the fence that the dog came through.
The pit bull has been put in quarantine where it will remain for at least 10 days, authorities said.
Gomes criticized Borjesson for shooting the animal and said it was unnecessary.
"I understand you're protecting your home, you're protecting your children, but shooting wasn't right," Gomes said.
Gomes said the dog lives with three small boys, ages 3, 6 and 9, and described the animal as "very friendly."
"You could've kicked her, or yelled at her and she would just run away," Gomes said. "I know pit bulls have bad reps, but she's gentle and kind. She plays with kids all the time."
But Borjesson said the dog did not run away even after getting shot in the face.
"It just stood there looking at me until they called it back," Borjesson said.
Borjesson also owns dogs and described herself as "an animal advocate." Still, she said she believes all pit bulls should be "extinct."
"I don't feel sorry at all about what I did. I'd do it again to protect my family," Borjesson said. "I love animals, but I'm an advocate for children first, before animals."
Gomes said, despite her anger, she is concerned for the young girl and stunned by the incident.
"Of course I'm totally and completely sorry for that, she's never done anything like this before."
(Appeal-Democrat - Oct 25, 2011)
