Kansas: Seven-year-old Topeka boy attacked in the face by neighbor William Weber Jr's pit bull

KANSAS -- After a dog attack, 7-year-old Russell New received almost 100 stitches and multiple rabies shots.

It's been five days since New went through what he described as the scariest moment of his life. He's hoping that by sharing his story, other children will think twice before approaching an unfamiliar dog.

New's injuries from, what Animal Control has confirmed as a Pit Bull attack, are still healing. However, the memory of the traumatic encounter will never go away.

  

  

"When the dog bit me, it hurt really, really bad. I never want to imagine that again," said New.

"He ran back to the house and flung my bedroom door open, hit the lights on and there was blood all over," said New's mother Steffany Allen.

 

 

The attack happened around 8:15 Sunday morning at the Adam Heights Mobile Home Complex, 1919 SE Adams, when New was walking home from a friend's house. Allen said her shock was indescribable when he ran into her room.

"He was in a lot of pain. The swelling was so bad, it was clear up to his nose, clear down to the bottom of his lip and he could barely talk," said Allen.

New was rushed to the hospital, where he went into surgery for 45 minutes. On top of the 79 stitches, he received five rabies shots in case the dog was not properly vaccinated.

Topeka Police Lt. Colleen Stuart said animal control was called to the scene moments after the attack.

"It was not until the next day they were able to locate the owner and the dog at separate time frames," said Stuart.

The owner of the Pit Bull that attacked New, is William Weber Jr. He was cited for having a dangerous dog, the dog running at large, no city tags, and an additional fine for the City to transport the dog to quarantine.

Stuart said the officers who spoke with Weber described him as being agitated and belligerent.

After New had a few days to cope with the attack, Animal Control asked him to identify the dog.

"I was like, 'That's the dog, that's the dog.' I was kind of afraid at first," said New.

This attack will forever stand out as one of the most traumatizing days of this family's lives.

"I think that was one of the most horrifying things I've ever been through," said Allen.

(WIBW - Nov 7, 2015)