Ohio: Seven year old boy attacked by uncle's pit bull mix

OHIO -- A 7-year-old boy was flown to Nationwide Children's Hospital after he was viciously bitten in the face by a relative's dog Sunday night, according to Lancaster police.

"He's a strong little boy, and he's going to be fine," said Ashley Robinson, the boy's mother, on Monday.

Police reported that the boy, identified as Cole Robinson, looked down at the dog and it bit him on his face around 7:15 p.m. Sunday. Police responded to an apartment in the 400 block of O'Gara Avenue where the attack occurred, and a helicopter landed in Miller Park to fly the boy to Columbus for treatment.

Robinson said her son has had two surgeries and is doing well. Hospital officials said Cole is in fair condition.

Robinson said Cole could be released in the next couple of days and he is in better condition than people have rumored. One of the rumors, Robinson said, is that Cole lost his eye from the attack, but that isn't true. She said the surgeries were meant to fix the cuts he sustained on his face.

As for the dog, the Fairfield County Dog Shelter responded to the apartment to collect it. On Monday, dog shelter officials declined to comment on the case, saying the investigation is ongoing and they have yet to speak to the victim's mother.

By looking at the pictures, police said it appears to be an American pit bull terrier mix.

Robinson told the Eagle-Gazette that the dog belongs to a family member and does not have a history of aggression.

"(The dog) was a puppy, and he grew up with my little boy," she explained, adding that to her knowledge, her son did nothing to provoke the dog and she isn't sure why the dog attacked him.

"We're still trying to put it all together," she said.

(Lancaster Eagle Gazette - April 27, 2015)