Illegal drugs and ammunition were also found in the home, according to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, a 9-1-1 call was placed at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Penn Ford Road in Independence after John Underwood II and Terra Connell heard the child screaming. Underwood and Connell were babysitting the child.
The dog had the girl’s head in its mouth. Underwood was bitten in the face while trying to stop the attack.
The child was flown to Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., and is in critical condition.
Underwood is charged with felony child neglect and possessing a vicious dog. Connell is also charged with felony neglect and having a vicious dog. She is also charged with possession of illegal drugs and possession of ammunition by a felon.
What about the parent(s) who left the baby with these people and their dog?
The dog was seized by Grayson County Animal Control. An animal control officer said they did not have any information about prior bite reports on the dog, but witnesses said they noticed aggressive behavior by the dog previously. A decision on what to do with the dog is pending court action.
Underwood and Connell are being held at the New River Valley Regional Jail without bond. They are scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
Here is the news release from the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office:
Grayson County Sheriff Richard Vaughan reported that his office is investigating a vicious dog attack that resulted in life threatening injuries to a child in the care of John Underwood and Terra Connell of Independence, Virginia.
On January 6, 2016 at about 9:30 p.m. Deputies, Rescue personnel and Animal Control responded to a 911 call at 443 Penn Ford Road in Independence. They met with the residents, John Underwood and Terra Connell. Underwood told investigators that he was awakened by the screams of a 15 month old child they were babysitting. The child had been mauled by their Pit Bull mix dog “E.J.” and had the child’s head in its mouth. Underwood was bitten in the face while trying to intervene in the attack of the child. The child was flown to Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where she remains in critical condition.
Grayson County Animal Control Officer, Jeremy Moss, seized the animal and obtained warrants against Underwood and Connell for Possessing a Vicious Dog. Moss stated that Grayson County had not received any prior bite reports from this animal but that witnesses have reported observing aggressive behavior from the dog previously.
Grayson County investigators executed a search warrant at the residence and discovered illegal drugs and ammunition. Underwood and Connell were both arrested on January 7, 2016 for Felony Child Neglect and Possessing a Vicious Dog. Connell was also charged with Possession of Illegal Drugs and Possession of Ammunition by a Felon. They were committed to the New River Valley Regional Jail with no bond. Their arraignment is scheduled for January 11, 2016 in Grayson County Court. The disposition of the animal is pending court action.
Sheriff Vaughan said, “This tragic incident could have been prevented had the dog’s owners taken some basic precautions.” According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, there are approximately 4.5 million Americans bitten by dogs each year. Of those bitten, 316,000 are treated in the emergency department and 9,500 are hospitalized. There were 40 verified dog bite-related fatalities in 2014 alone. Grayson County Crime Prevention Officer Doug Carner stated that the key to preventing dog bites starts with responsible pet ownership. Dog owners should never leave an infant or young child alone with any dog, especially an aggressive one. Children should not be allowed to interact inappropriately with the dog, interact with the dog while it is eating food or chewing on a toy, roughhouse, tease, touch or move a dog against its will. For more on preventing dog attacks go to: www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs.”
(WDBJ7 - Jan 8, 2016)
This sheriff forgot to tell that of the 40 dead by dog attack in 2014, 33 were killed by known pit bull types. Another 5 were killed by probable pit bull types. Of the 13 children killed, all but one were killed by 'beloved family pet' pit bulls that had never been neglected or abused. The only other dogs that killed anyone were Rottweilers -- they killed 2 adults.
ReplyDeleteThen this sheriff sends people to this useless HSUS site that tells us all dogs will try to kill your child if you make a tiny mistake...except pit bulls!
We need to start getting rid of this kind of public official.
Responsible dog ownership starts with the type of dog a person chooses to own. If you choose to own a pit bull type, you've been so irresponsible right there that no other attempts at 'responsible ownership' matter after that.
P.S. The thirteenth child killed in 2014 was also killed by a pit bull -- one from a shelter. No other type of dog killed a child last year. Only pit bull types.
ReplyDelete