IDAHO -- A Great Dane has been quarantined at a local veterinarian's office after the dog bit a 7-year-old girl on the face.
Authorities in Heyburn say this is the second time the dog has bitten a child and caused serious injury. They’re still examining their options for the situation, including what to do with the dog.
“This is an emotionally charged issue and we want to handle this by the book,” said Greg Richins, Heyburn city administrator.
According to a Heyburn Police Department report, officers were called to 1830 L St. on April 5 and found the dog’s owner, Ruth Elisa Rockwell, holding a bath towel against the forehead of a little girl.
Police Chief Dan Bristol said the girl was visiting a friend and was reportedly attacked outside of a fence at the home.
According to the report, when officers arrived the dog was jumping at the fence. It was taken by animal control to a veterinarian’s office, where it will be held under quarantine for 10 days.
The child was transported to the hospital.
According to the report the child required 22 stitches on her forehead, five stitches at the top of her mouth and one stitch to her bottom lip to close the wounds. The child also had one eye that was swollen shut.
Rockwell was issued a misdemeanor citation for a vicious dog at large. According to the police report, she has been summoned to Minidoka County 5th District Magistrate Court at 8:30 a.m. April 25. The court appearance could not be confirmed Tuesday in online court records.
According to Heyburn’s animal control code, a dog is presumed “vicious” if it has bitten or attempted to bite two people unless it was provoked or defending a person or property. The code states the owner of a vicious dog shall surrender it to animal control on demand and the dog shall be destroyed.
In August, a 10-year-old boy was bitten on the face by the same dog after it knocked over a partially constructed fence while the child was walking past the residence.
The boy sustained serious wounds to the face and head.
The dog was voluntarily turned over to authorities and quarantined to check for rabies after the August bite. But the owner was not cited. At the time, the dog showed no aggression toward police.
“I’ve never gone through this situation before so I’m researching it during the quarantine time period,” Richins said.
He said the dog will likely be euthanized. But animal control has been contacted by rescue groups offering to take the dog and place it in a sanctuary where it will never be available for adoption.
“We want the end result to be acceptable to the citizens of Heyburn,” Richins said.
Bristol said if the issue is left up to him, the dog won’t bite a third child.
(Magic Valley - April 10, 2013)
