MISSOURI -- A Perryville, Missouri, man is facing a criminal charge after his dog mauled a young neighbor, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said Friday.
A pit bull owned by Christopher Gaulding, 26, of Perryville attacked a 7-year-old girl who came into Gaulding's yard July 9, Schaaf said.
"It chewed this little girl's arm up pretty good," he said.
Because the dog bit another child about a year ago, authorities charged Gaulding with a misdemeanor, Schaaf said.
The dog was on a chain in its yard when it attacked the little girl, Schaaf said.
He said a woman two doors down heard what was going on and called her husband, who came after the dog with a broomstick, Schaaf said.
The dog was standing over the child, but when the man approached with the broomstick, it charged after him, giving the girl a chance to roll to safety, Schaaf said.
"We've taken the dog," he said. "We've got it sequestered and given [Gaulding] notice he's got 10 days to appeal us putting him down."
Under state law, if a dog that previously has bitten a person or domestic animal without provocation subsequently bites another person, the owner can be charged with a crime.
The law also calls for the dog to be seized and held for 10 days before being destroyed.
If the owner appeals within the 10-day period, the dog remains impounded while the appeal is pending, the law states, with a disposition hearing to be held within 30 days to determine whether the dog should be put down.
The law does not apply to dogs that attack would-be criminals, such as a burglar breaking into a home.
(SE Missourian - July 19, 2014)
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