4-year-old Collier County girl attacked by pit bull which had attacked another dog a few weeks earlier

FLORIDA -- A 4-year-old Golden Gate Estates girl is recovering after her mother said she was bitten by their neighbor's pit bull while at a birthday party.

"She says 'Hi Brutus' and the dog whips it's head around latches on to her right forearm." The girl's mother, Marelys Delashmet said.

 

 

 

 

Delashmet said she called 9-1-1 while she tried to comfort her young daughter.

"She was in severe pain and to watch your 4-year-old daughter tear up and cry in so much pain, it killed me." Delashmet said.

Delashmet said the pit bull also went after her dog a few weeks before.

When asked, the dog's owner  didn't want to make a comment to FOX4.

The attack was reported to Domestic Animal Services, the dog has been quarantined but is still living at the owner's home which a DAS animal control supervisor said is common practice.

" Quarantine is usually done in the owners home if the animal is current with rabies vaccination. If the animal is not current in vaccination but we usually require them to stay at the shelter." Animal Control Supervisor Darcy Andrade said.

Animal services said because this was the first incident reported and the dog didn't cause severe injury, broken bones or death, right now it is not considered a dangerous dog. But, Marelys Delashmet said her daughter's wounds are enough proof and said she won't wait around for the dog to strike again.

"What's next for me is to uproot my family. We have to move into a smaller home, but we have to move away from here because I will not have my kids not be able to play in the yard. I will not have them and myself in fear that they're going to be playing and all of a sudden have a pit bull latch on to them." Delashmet said.

 

Animal services said they can investigate the incident further if two sworn statements are submitted from two separate households.

(Fox 4 - Aug 15, 2013)