Ken Ferree of Ferree Kennels in McKeesport said a veterinarian is scheduled to give the dog, described as a pit bull terrier mix, a fatal injection.
The dog is blamed for attacking TayLynn DeVaughn of Forest Hills at about 8:45 p.m. Feb. 22 while the toddler's family was visiting a home on Fleetwood Street.
Ferree said the dog's owners were out of town when the incident happened but indicated to him they intended to have the animal put down.
Ferree said Wednesday the owners had not yet completed related paperwork but that would not prevent the dog from being put down.
The dog has been quarantined at the kennel since the night of the incident. Ferree said a 10-day quarantine period is standard in cases in which an animal has attacked a person. He said he has kept the police and the Allegheny County dog warden up to date on the canine's status.
Ferree, who is animal control officer for West Mifflin and a number of other local communities, said the dog — which is 3 to 4 years old and weighs about 80 pounds — was aggressive and uncooperative the night of the attack but has been somewhat withdrawn since.
“The dog is still doing the thousand-mile stare. This dog is odd,” Ferree said. “It's been here 10 days and you still can't read this dog.”
Allegheny County police Lt. Andrew Schurman said no criminal charges have been filed as a result of his department's investigation.
“The (district attorney's) office will make the final determination,” Schurman said.
Allegheny County District Attorney's Office spokesman Mike Manko said he had nothing to report on the investigation.
The day after the attack, the victim's father, Cory DeVaughn, told Trib Total Media news exchange partner WPXI 11 it was the second time his daughter had been around the dog. He said he didn't blame anyone and that everyone was hurting.
The Medical Examiner's Office ruled the toddler's cause of death as accidental from injuries to the head and neck caused by a dog.
She was pronounced dead at Jefferson Hospital the night of the attack.
(Tribune-Review - March 5, 2015)
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