One central Arkansas family faced that same struggle this week. Their son is now facing possible reconstructive surgery after being attacked by his own dog in their back yard.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association up to 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year. One out of five of those require medical attention. Channel 7 has reported on many stories involving dogs viciously attacking people. Sometimes resulting in death.
Reggie Swinton and his wife Patricia recently decided to put their adult Akita name Keeto down after their 19 year old son, Craig Steele, was attacked.
"The first thing that ran through my mind was that he had to go, because I just felt like he was trying to kill us! He had to go. Immediately. No doubt about it!” Patricia Swinton said.
What Steele thought would be a quick favor for his mother became a dangerous situation quickly.
“It was in the morning and I came out here to put him in the kennel for the Comcast guy,” Steele said.
"He was jumping and everything so I was really just trying to keep him from my face and everything so I just kept blocking with my arms.”
Keeto attacked Steele biting him numerous times resulting in Steele losing large amount of skin.
"He looked like he was a monster. I felt like he was trying to kill my son. My son felt like he was trying to kill him because he wouldn't leave I'm alone. He kept biting him everywhere. I mean he took a chunk out of his arms,” Patricia Swinton said. "He got on his hind legs and got in my face. He got about this close. He had blood on his face. My sons blood all of her his face.”
Reggie Swinton said the attack took the entire family by surprise.
"I have seen that look in his eyes before but it wasn't like he was trying to be aggressive towards me. It was anybody that was coming towards our gate. He didn't want anyone coming towards our gate,” Reggie Swinton said. "I never thought he would attack anyone in our household because he got use to us. "
A painful event, that left physical and mental marks on Steele.
"I really wasn't trying to look at it. I haven't even looked at the pictures,” Steele said.
The Swintons took in Keeto about a year ago after finding him roaming the neighborhood. Swinton told Channel 7 News he tried to find the owner but had no luck. Now they've given the dog to the pound.
"My younger son comes out here a lot by himself with the dog. So it's nothing uncommon. I guess because CJ had been gone to college and just came back home he wasn't use to him as he was initially,” Reggie Swinton said.
Steele said his attack serves as a reminder that any breed can be dangerous
“All dogs can be aggressive I guess it's just. They all react differently in different situations,” Steel said.
(KATV - June 14, 2015)
what a shame that THIS arkansasan was not attacked by his dog.
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