Infant attacked by pit bull

**Sister Iroz** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:29 PM

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - An eight month old baby boy is in the hospital struggling to survive after being attacked by a pit bull.

Newport News police say the little boy was at his babysitter's house on Barclay Road when the pit bull mauled him around 7:30 Monday morning.

The baby was listed in critical condition Monday evening after being in surgery earlier in the day. He was badly injured with deep bites all over his face and neck.

Police say the baby's mother and father are both in the military and his mother dropped him off at the babysitter's on her way to work.

They say the baby was on the floor when the babysitter's pit bull, only a year or so old itself, attacked the baby. The babysitter and her teenager daughter struggled to pry the baby out of the dog's jaws.

"It's just devastating," said one neighbor. "You never want to admit that your dog might do something like that."

Police say when the babysitter got the pit bull off the baby she called 911 and willingly surrendered her dog to animal control officers.

A short time later, the dog was euthenized.

"I think a dog is basically what you breed it to be and it will be either mean or as friendly as can be, based on its upbringing," said another neighbor.

An ambulance first rushed the baby to a peninsula hospital, his condition was so serious though he was quickly choppered to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Police have not yet decided whether to criminally charge the babysitter.

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_w...ttack_20090202

OMG, this is terrible. I hope and pray this baby pulls through. Why was the baby alone with the dog?

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - A pit bull attack on an 8-month-old Newport News boy has left the child in critical conditon. Police and the city's division of animal services said the attack occurred Monday morning at the home of the child's babysitter. The child was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for treatment of what police called "substantial injuires" to the face and neck area. The 1½-year-old animal was surrendered to animal services and was euthanized. Detectives said they are investigating the attack as a possible case of child neglect

0http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=9774275

**Sister Iroz** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:33 PM

A 7-month-old baby was taken to a hospital after being attacked this morning by a pit bull, authorities said.

The boy suffered severe facial and neck injuries, was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and was listed in critical condition, according to a news release from Newport News police.

He was at a babysitter’s home in the 300 block of Barclay Road when the attack happened about 7:40 a.m., said Kim Lee, city spokeswoman. The babysitter struggled to separate the dog from the baby, the news release said.

The dog, which belonged to the babysitter, was surrendered to animal control officers and euthanized, Lee said. The dog, a neutered male not quite two years old, will be tested for rabies. However, the dog's rabies vaccination was current and the dog had no previous history with Animal Services, the police news release said.

Detectives are investigating this as a possible case of child neglect, the news release said, but no one has been charged. The identity of the child will be withheld until detectives notify family members. The name of the babysitter will also not be released unless she is criminally charged.

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/02/infa...k-newport-news

**Silvahalo** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:39 PM

"I think a dog is basically what you breed it to be and it will be either mean or as friendly as can be, based on its upbringing," said another neighbor.

Obviously how your raise a dog will determine how it will behave. I've read about dogs that were never known to be aggressive, very friendly and still attack. Nevertheless, a baby and a dog should never, ever be left unattended. It is not clear if that was the case, almost sounds like the dog was unprovoked. I would be beside myself in horror to find the baby in the jaws of a dog.

I strongly believe animals of this nature should not be in a home with children...period.

So sorry sweet one...

**DogMom** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by silvahalo68

i strongly believe animals of this nature should not be in a home with children...period.

amen amen amen.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 2nd, 2009, 09:53 PM

Animals of ANY nature should not be left alone with children.

Remember the lab puppy that ate the baby in a swing?
http://www.dreamindemon.com/2008/07/...ft-unattended/

It was a lab. Safe dog. Not safe with baby.

**Rockin Ma** · February 2nd, 2009, 10:11 PM

Kids should never be left alone with dogs. Never ever. I have no reason at all to think my dog would ever do anything but protect my kids. If I go up for a shower, the dog gets put in my room. Better safe than sorry.

Out of the many dogs I've had in my life, my pits have been/are the best and I will probably always own one. In MY experience with them. You do not have to leave them alone with a child to see how jealous they become. Meaning, they might have been right there giving the child attention when the dog attacked.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:01 PM

I would not even leave a pet frog alone with my grand kids. Of course, that end of the spectrum is for the safety of the pet.

**Rockin Ma** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota_Valkyrie

I would not even leave a pet frog alone with my grand kids. Of course, that end of the spectrum is for the safety of the pet.

My Flashy wouldn't hurt a fly! Won't let anyone but me touch him though, never took him to a vet to see if he carries salmonella.

**Rockin Ma** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota_Valkyrie

I would not even leave a pet frog alone with my grand kids. Of course, that end of the spectrum is for the safety of the pet.

Wait a minute! I know I'm not losing it. Your post just said pet turtle. I know it did!

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:10 PM

Drugs will do that to you.

I edited it because turtle bites hurt.

**Sister Iroz** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by Rockin Ma

Wait a minute! I know I'm not losing it. Your post just said pet turtle. I know it did!

You really are tripping because I thought it said frog. LOL

**Rockin Ma** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by Special2bme

You really are tripping because I thought it said frog. LOL

No, I mean it, when I quoted and started typing it said turtle. I know this because I quoted it just to say something about my flashy. When I hit post it said frog! I know it! DV has stealth edit or something.

It's not drugs, I only get flashbacks looking at road signs.

**Rockin Ma** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota_Valkyrie

Drugs will do that to you.

I edited it because turtle bites hurt.

A ha! Thank goodness! I thought I was losing my mind.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:28 PM

It's OK Ma. It was divine forum imp intervention of some sort. You DID quote "frog" though

**Rockin Ma** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:32 PM

I give up!

**Dakota Valkyrie** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:38 PM

Should we send those guys with the big butterfly nets away?

**twinklestars** · February 2nd, 2009, 11:48 PM

How horrible, I hope the poor baby has a speedy recovery. I can't even imagine the pain :( I work dog bites on a regular basis so I'm pretty familiar with it all. But when a child gets attacked in the home like this it is borderline child neglect in my experience. Yes I don't know the whole story but that move was irresponsible on the babysitters part to say the least. Hell I don't even leave my daughter alone around my own two ankle biters. I always tell people "Never under estimate your dog cause that's when it might bite you in the ass, literally" well kinda in those exact words lol.

**ineedanap** · February 3rd, 2009, 11:22 AM

I strongly believe animals of this nature should not be in a home with children...period.

Once again, Silva, ITA.

**Spitfire77** · February 3rd, 2009, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Dakota_Valkyrie

Animals of ANY nature should not be left alone with children.

Remember the lab puppy that ate the baby in a swing?
http://www.dreamindemon.com/2008/07/...ft-unattended/

It was a lab. Safe dog. Not safe with baby.

ITA. My sister was attacked by a golden retriever the day after Christmas 13 years ago. She'll be 21 in March, and she still has a huge scar on her face. We were all playing with a tennis ball in the house, and when she caught it, he attacked her. I'm always cautious now with my dogs. One of my husky/shepherd mix girls likes to sleep by my son's bed at night, but I don't let her. If I will not be in the room, the dogs are outside. Or if the baby is playing on the floor, the dogs are outside.

**swivel** · February 3rd, 2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota_Valkyrie

Animals of ANY nature should not be left alone with children.

Remember the lab puppy that ate the baby in a swing?
http://www.dreamindemon.com/2008/07/...ft-unattended/

It was a lab. Safe dog. Not safe with baby.

Exactly. The more we focus on a SINGLE BREED, the more we will cause harm by ignoring the larger threat.