Louisiana: Female US Army staff sergeant Anya Ashley's pit bull mauls 5 year old boy; she flees with the dog and hides it

LOUISIANA -- Angela Herrington posted on Facebook May 25 · Fort Polk, LA ·

Ok, so I hate that it has come to this, but sometimes a mama needs to make sure things get taken care of. On the morning of Sunday, May 22nd my 5 year old son was viciously attacked by a unauthorized dog in military housing on Fort Polk, Louisiana.

The attack was completely unprovoked. My son Wyatt was walking with my teen daughter behind a row of houses in an open area (about 15-20 feet away from the houses). The dog escaped it's fence and went for Wyatt. My teen was able to kick the dog off and the owners grabbed the dog.

The dog was taken by the owners to a hiding place before the MPs could get there, while we were at the ER where Wyatt underwent surgery.

The owner, SSG Anya Ashley (aka Anya Brown Ashley) has lied multiple times about where the dog is and is refusing to turn it in for the recommended quarantine. Meanwhile my 5 year old has to undergo a series of painful rabies vaccinations that could of been avoided if the owner would just do the right thing. 

We are offering a cash reward to anyone who leads us to the whereabouts of this dog. Because this dog WILL ATTACK AGAIN. My biggest fear is the dog is still somewhere in housing at Fort Polk or in the immediate area.

I am a dog lover, but this is ridiculous to leave an obviously dangerous dog out where it could possibly kill someone next time. I will not back down and will not stop until there is justice, Wyatt did not deserve this in any way.

Please, please share this.

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The soldier’s dog who viciously bit a 5-year-old boy on Fort Polk, Louisiana, last month remains at large. Neither the base’s military police nor animal control have been able to find the animal since the May 22 attack.

That Sunday, Angela Herrington was walking outside with her young son and teenage daughter looking for their own dog who had gotten loose.

That’s when another dog — Herrington says a pit bull — appeared from behind a house fence and mauled her son Wyatt, ripping flesh from his arm.

Wyatt's older sister Christina managed to kick the dog off her brother.

“They were by a park, probably 20 feet from the fence,” Herrington told Army Times. “We have no history with the dog or the family, there was no threat to the dog.”

Fort Polk spokeswoman Kim Reischling confirmed the Army was investigating the incident, and that the dog in question was still missing.

“Fort Polk officials take this very seriously and are dedicated to the safety and well-being of everyone who lives and works on the installation,” she said.

The Army would not name the alleged dog owner, though Herrington says it is a female staff sergeant.

Through neighbors’ accounts who witnessed the attack, Herrington said the owner grabbed the dog and drove away with it. Authorities believe the dog to be off-post at this point, Reischling said.

She needs to be sitting in a jail cell until she coughs up the dog. She knew is was not allowed in the neighborhood. She needs to be court martialed and kicked out of the military.

CERTAIN DOGS NOT ALLOWED IN MILITARY HOUSING
Corvias Military Living, which manages Fort Polk neighborhood housing, has had a dog policy in effect since March 1, 2009.  It specifies “pit bulls, American [pit bull terriers], Staffordshire pit bull terriers, rottweilers, Doberman pinschers, chows, wolf hybrids, and crosses of these breeds” are NOT allowed.

Herrington said her husband was frustrated that he couldn’t be there for his son.

Sgt. 1st Class James Herrington, is an infantryman with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He is currently deployed in Afghanistan on his sixth tour. He is due back to return from active duty sometime next week.

“My husband’s rear detachment has been very supportive,” said Herrington, a former staff sergeant and mother of five.

After receiving surgery more than two weeks ago, Herrington’s son has gotten his stitches out and has received several rabies shots.

“The dog is obviously dangerous,” Herrington said.

Herrington said they were considering sending Cayenne to a temporary new home. Wyatt has developed a fear of dogs following the attack and has started having nightmares.

“My teenage daughter is racked with guilt,” Herrington wrote to Army Times. “It’s so heartbreaking to deal with.”

UPDATE TO STORY:
Apparently, they caught the woman and threw her in jail. Now they just need to find the dog.

Rita Sanders - Continued Prayers for Your Son and it breaks my heart seeing him to suffer through this and I Pray they find that dog and the owner should go to jail for not being a decent human being and keeping that dog at large somewhere !

Anna Haefele Baranello - Has her CoC taken any action? I know you sought them out..

Angela Herrington - Yes. She has been arrested by the MPs and charged. The command and the prosecutor are now working on the next steps on what her punishment should be. It will be a career ender for her.

Esther Dale - GOOD!

Alisa Johnson - Thank goodness!!!

Amber Martin - Awesome

(ArmyTimes.com - June 6, 2016)