The attack happened Tuesday on Lipton Place in Antioch.
The boy's father, Anthony Klingenberg, told Nashville's News 2 the dog got free from his chain.
"He just broke off his collar off the tree and came straight after me," victim Adam said, adding, "I was thinking he might tear off my arm."
Anthony says he called Metro police and Metro Animal Control Tuesday night while Adam's mother took him to the hospital.
According to the father, neither department responded to investigate the matter further.
"I think somebody should have been out here immediately last night with a viscous pit-bull on the loose and that was what the report was when I called in," he told Nashville's News 2.
He continued, "After several hours of sitting here, I called back to find out is somebody coming or what and after a few phone calls back with the police department they just finally told me they didn't need to come out last night and fill out a report."
On Wednesday, animal control officers responded to the scene and took custody of the dog.
Adam was treated and released at an area hospital. He is expected to recover.
Nashville's News 2 spoke with Metro Animal Director Judy Ladebauche regarding the incident on Tuesday.
"We do have an on call officer 24 hours a day for animal bites. Hospitals and medical facilities are supposed to notify us, I know they get busy and they don't always do it. Really the parent or victim needs to contact us the next morning and make sure we have all the information," she explained.
The dog will be held in quarantine for 10 days. If the canine is healthy at the end of the time period, the owner can pay the fines and re-gain custody of the dog.
State law requires any dog that has bitten a person to be micro-chipped.
(WKRN - Oct 24, 2012)
