The dog bit the child in the head area, inflicting serious damage to his jaw, neck, forehead and right eye, according to the Murrieta Police Department.
The child received around 50 stitches at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar and was later sent to a children’s hospital in San Diego, said Mo Middleton, animal control supervisor with Animal Friends of the Valleys.
The owner of the dog, who had the animal on a leash, left the store following the incident, sparking a brief manhunt that ended on Sunday when the owner, a 62-year-old man who has not been identified by the department, was contacted by a Murrieta Police Department detective.
“He did have a conversation with one of the parents and the child and then left quickly,” said Murrieta Police Lt. Ron Driscoll. “He should have stayed. … Why he left, that I don’t know.”
The 62-year-old man is not being identified because the department has not yet decided whether or not to file charges.
Middleton said the dog, a 3-year-old Japanese Akita named Chester, could be immediately euthanized if the owner decides to waive his right to a vicious dog hearing.
Middleton, who plans to meet with the owner Tuesday, said it’s unclear if a hearing will be held, however, because there is still an open investigation by the police department.
In addition, she said, there is an unconfirmed report that the dog may have been involved in another biting incident and there is work underway to corroborate that information.
“Someone has told us there was,” she said.
Dogs that have been quarantined are generally held for 10 days. If they are released, they are sometimes released on condition of the owner muzzling the dog in public and/or employing other safeguards. In the event the dog is determined to be a “danger to the public,” it will be put down, Middleton said.
Asked about the condition of the child, Middleton said she has been told he is in stable condition and could be released on Tuesday.
Driscoll said Monday night that the report of a previous bite that Middleton mentioned is being looked into.
Asked about the possibility of criminal charges against the owner, Driscoll said the case is under investigation.
The incident has prompted a vigorous online debate about people who bring non-service dogs into stores, which Lowe’s does not officially allow, and the proper way to approach a dog.
“Our policy is that for safety and sanitary reasons, only service animals are allowed in the store, and that’s nationwide,” said Karen Cobb, a Lowe’s spokeswoman.
Cobb said there should be a sign posted at the front entrance of every store that makes that policy known.
Asked to comment on the incident, Cobb said Lowe’s is cooperating with local law enforcement authorities who are looking into this situation.
Asked if Lowe’s has reached out to the family, she said, “Of course.” Cobb did not provide any further details about the outreach and said she could provide no update on the status of the youth.
On the debate about how to approach a dog, Middleton said any expert advice or handed-down wisdom may not always protect a dog owner from liability for an attack or a potential victim.
“Dogs act different in different situations,” she said, adding that she’s seen the friendliest dogs turn aggressive when guarding their owner’s truck or home.
Talking about Akitas specifically, Middleton said they are both protective and loyal dogs, which does not make them the ideal companion for public jaunts.
“An Akita is not a dog you walk and allow people to pet in an open environment,” she said.
John Welsh, spokesman for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, said an attack by an Akita in the unincorporated part of the county is fairly rare, in part, because of the cost of the animals and the care taken by their owners to protect that investment.
“They’re pretty good about keeping the dog in a restrained manner,” he said, talking about Akita owners.
According to the socalakitas.com website, the operators of the site, Akita breeders, note that an Akita is not the right choice for everyone.
From the site: “They are gorgeous, smart, loyal, and make great family dogs with the right family. They need a strong leader, and plenty of training. Akitas can become aggressive towards strangers, other animals they don’t know and sometimes even food aggressive towards other pets. I strongly recommend researching this breed to enable you to be well-educated in what it means to have a beautiful creature like an Akita. With beauty comes work.”
Ben Metcalf, a spokesman for Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, said the facility treats many children throughout the year who have been the victims of dog bites.
In many cases, he said, a child will attempt to hug a dog and that will trigger an aggressive response from the animal, who will strike out and bite a child’s face.
(pe.com - Dec 30, 2013)
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