RHODE ISLAND -- Ariella Palumbo cried Wednesday as she watched a three-person panel at a vicious dog hearing in Providence vote unanimously to have her pit bull euthanized.
Officials said the dog attacked a Little League player at Gano Park in July. Witnesses to the attack, including the boy's baseball coach, said he and his teammates were running along the perimeter of a fence when the dog began running with them outside the fence. When the dog got to a gate in left field, it forced its way through and onto the field. It attacked Jason Feit, leaving him seriously injured.
Jason's father, David Feit, said his son needed two hours of surgery and 36 stitches to help mend his wounds. He also said his son, who was never afraid of dogs before the attack, now expresses fear when he's around the animals.
Palumbo said she was not at home at the time of the attack, although she could not recall where she was.
Witnesses described a man with the dog but Palumbo denied knowing who that man was. After answering questions from the panel, Palumbo seemed to slip and say "my brother" when talking about the dog being unleashed and him knowing how to handle it. She then identified her brother as Julius Dover, saying he was with the dog that day.
Witnesses said once the dog was wrestled off the boy, Dover took the dog and another one and left the park.
The victim of the attack continues to recover, although his parents expect some permanent scarring to come from the attack.
The dog remains under the supervision of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Palumbo has five days to appeal the panel's decision to District Court.
(Turn to 10 - Aug 7, 2013)
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