The vicious attack Saturday was a nightmare for the little boy's family and forced him to undergo an hour-long surgery. It's left him and his family traumatized.
"My grandchild had just gotten home from having a milkshake, has been home 10 minutes," said Janie Simmons, the boy's grandmother. "He went up to pet the dog."
That's when things went terribly wrong here on the 4300 block of Blue Springs Road, ending with a graphic image of the boy having 22 staples in his head, stitches on his face and bite marks on his chest.
"It's traumatic. My two kids saw it, his head laid open, you could see his skull," said Annie Manson, the boy's mother who didn't want her son identified.
Manson said the dog attacked her son on Saturday, and the boy's older brother pulled the dog off to save him. Manson said the dog was a stray until an aunt started to care for it, and she didn't have any problems.
"He came to the aunt, and she took him in. It's my son's life. We don't know if he's had his rabies shot, and so he needs to be quarantined for 10 days," said Manson. "If he shows no signs and it's good, it needs to be put down."
Simmons said she helped her sister care for the dog and kept it chained in her yard.
"We're real concerned with the dog's condition because he has been sick. He was sick the week before," said Simmons.
The family said after the attack they called the county animal shelter SPCA to get the dog.
"They came. They told my sister they didn't have room for the dog," said Simmons.
Yet, the shelter director Bobbi Anderson said the aunt wanted to quarantine the dog herself. The family said shelter workers
didn't pick up the dog until Sunday afternoon. Anderson said the dog is a pit-bull mix.
"I believe originally she wanted to try to keep the animal there. But because of everything that had happened, she just felt like it was better for all involved for us to go and pick up the dog," said Anderson.
Regardless, the boy is suffering and the family hopes to start his healing process.
"Making him feel safe, it's bad when you think your son's safe and a dog's fine and something happens. You never think this would happen to your child," said Manson.
The dog will continue to be quarantined at SPCA for 10 days to watch it for rabies symptoms. The boy's family said they are
worried about the child's condition since they aren't sure whether the dog had its shots.
The 8-year-old will return to the doctor for a checkup in about five days. Depend on NewsChannel9 to keep you updated on his condition.
(NewsChannel9 - Jul 28, 2014)
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