The dogs, which the Lucas County Dog Warden's Office said were licensed as boxers, were owned by Mike Shambarger, best friend of Austin's dad, Todd Good. Austin's family even "dog sat" on several occasions in their Maumee home.
During a visit to Mr. Shambarger's home in Richfield Township, the Evergreen Elementary second grader left the house to go out to his father's car. When he didn't return after a few minutes, his father went to the door and witnessed every parent's worst nightmare. His child was being mauled by the dogs that had been playing peacefully in the back yard just moments earlier.
The Nov. 20 incident resulted in 50 percent of the boy's scalp being torn off. One of his ears was severed and the other ear was half torn off. The injuries have required extensive and ongoing medical treatment. After the incident, Austin was transported by air ambulance to Toledo Hospital and hours later to Detroit Children's Hospital for emergency surgery to reattach his scalp.
After more than a month in the hospital, Austin was released Dec. 22 to be home for Christmas. He came home with an IV in his arm so his parents could administer his antibiotics. On Jan. 3, Austin went back to Detroit for a skin graft on the back of his head. Surgeons removed a large piece of skin from his lower back to attach to his scalp, Todd Good said.
Austin returned to school in March after managing to stay caught up with the help of a tutor. He'll have to have more surgery on his ear this summer, but the doctors are letting his small body rest and heal for the moment.
"It's really a miracle he's come through this as well as he has," Mr. Good said.
Several fund-raising dinners have been held to help pay for his ongoing medical care. An account, "Benefit for Austin Good LLC," has been set up, and donations can be made at any Fifth Third Bank branch.
The dogs, which were surrendered by Mr. Shambarger to the dog warden after the incident, were destroyed Dec. 1 because they had a bite history, Ms. Lyle said.
...Austin, who has always loved dogs, has been begging his parents for a puppy despite the incident. They recently acquired "Duke," a 10-week-old boxer puppy.
(Toledo Blade - May 26, 2012)
