Officials seize dog after child attacked

NORTH CAROLINA -- County officials have seized a rottweiler after the animal reportedly attacked a young child on Feb. 9.

MiMi Cooper, public health director, said initially her department believed the animal had never attacked a human before. The public health department in Randolph County is in charge of the county’s animal shelter and investigates reports of animal attacks and/or abuse.

Cooper said her department was notified of the attack by the dog’s owner, Steve Andrews of 1414 Ben Lambeth Road in Asheboro, on the day the incident happened. She said Andrews took the young child immediately to the hospital for treatment.

It is uncertain what Andrews’ relationship to the child is. Cooper said Andrews said the animal was routinely kept in a kennel. Somehow it got out and gained access to the child who was not seriously wounded, based on pictures shared by a relative.

Complete information on the child’s condition is not available because the child is a minor and the child’s medical records are not public record. Cooper said a check of veterinary records indicated the dog was up-to-date on its shots.

Believing the animal had not been associated with attacks in the past, Cooper said state law allowed for the animal to be quarantined with its owner, who was required to contact her department every day for a 10-day period to confirm the dog’s health and confinement.

However, Cooper said, upon future research, her department discovered the dog had been involved in two previous attacks when Andrews lived at a different address; one attack occurred in 2010 and another in 2013. In the 2013 attack, the dog was also quarantined.

Cooper said her staff was directed to seize the dog to hold it at the animal shelter until Feb. 19. At that time, Andrews can reclaim his dog, she said. However, the dog will be classified as a dangerous animal and Andrews will be required to meet more stringent standards for confinement, Cooper said.

He will also have to post notices around his property alerting the public to the presence of a dangerous animal.

(courier-tribune.com - Feb 12, 2014)