When the Frisbee landed near a neighbor’s fence [in which Katrina Vidaurre's pit bulls were kept], 4-year-old Levi Mulkey went to grab it when two dogs mauled him.
[Another article says that inside this neighbor's fence were six dogs - two of which were pit bulls. The article says two of the dogs, one of them a pit bull, attacked the little boy.]
“They grabbed him by the face and tried to rip him through the fence,” said Matthew Mulkey, Levi’s father.
It attack happened right in front of their Chino Valley home on Saturday.
Lines of stitches and deep scratches on the boy’s face show the torment he went through.
His parents said Levi’s tear duct was ripped out so he has to have a plastic tube in his eye for six months.
He also has a broken eye socket, broken cheek bone, and a shattered jaw. He also had to have stitches on his arm where the dogs bit him.
“The fence had bowed in where the dogs were trying to rip Levi through the fence to get him into their yard,” said Tiffaney Mulkey, Levi’s mother.
Levi’s parent feel their son might have died had their 8-year-old son, Jayden, not have stepped in and rescued him.
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| Levi, before the attack |
The Mulkey’s say Jayden ran over and started kicking the dogs which helped free his younger brother and save his life.
“They could have killed him so easy. If my son [Jayden] wasn't there we wouldn't be here. We would be somewhere else. We'd be burying our son [Levi],” said Matthew.
While rescuing his brother, the dogs also bit Jayden who also received stitches near his shoulder.
“We tell him every day that we're proud he stood up to saved his brother's life,” said Tiffaney.
Chino Valley police told ABC15 officers took custody of the dogs and investigators said the dog owners are expected to face charges.
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| Katrina Vidaurre |
Levi is recovering at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. On Friday, he’s scheduled to have surgery on his shattered jaw but could be back at his Chino Valley home by Sunday.
Friends of the family are trying to help the family raise money for the unexpected medical bills.
(abc15 - Feb 8, 2012)
