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Family Dog Attacks, Kills Toddler

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They say that dogs are man’s best friends, but that is not always the case. Dogs can attack anyone—even their own family members—at any time and for any reason. It’s especially heartbreaking when the victim is a baby.

Sadly, this was recently the case in New York. A Rottweiler attacked a toddler boy, causing fatal wounds to his neck and shoulder.

The fatal dog attack happened on the evening of August 10 in the 300 block of East 17th Street. The three boys—ages 11, 9, and 19 months—were left alone in their father’s parents’ apartment while their father went to work. The mother, who does not live in the home, had left the children in the father’s care. She was unaware that he would be leaving the children alone.

The family’s dog, a Rottweiler, suddenly attacked the youngest boy. The older boys yelled for help outside. Somebody went inside and pulled the boy out of the apartment. Another boy called 911 for help.

Emergency crews arrived and were traumatized by the scene. Police found the dog in a room in the residence. The boy was found heavily bleeding with neck and shoulder injuries. He was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where he later died.

The dog was taken to Animal Care and Control. While it is unknown what caused the attack, one of the boys had been bitten by the Rottweiler before.

The case is under investigation. The father was arrested the next day and faces several criminal charges, including criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter. The 30-year-old man also has an assault charge on his record.

When Family Dogs Attack

Unfortunately, there has been a rise in dog attacks in recent years, with more and more family dogs attacking children. While any dog can bite, most of the attacks were caused by pitbulls and Rottweilers.

There are approximately 2,400 dog attacks every day. More than half of victims are children. Dog attacks are most likely to occur in the victim’s home or at the home of the victim’s friend. In fact, 77% of the dogs involved in attacks are known to the victim and are owned by the victim, a friend, or a family member.

Boys ages 5 to 9 are most likely to be attacked by dogs. Children are bitten in the face, head, and neck most often.

Dog bites are a serious health problem for children. They are more deadly than mumps, measles, and whooping cough combined. They are also more common than injuries from bikes, skateboards, ATVS, and playgrounds.

Contact Us Today

Dogs can attack at any time and they should not be left in the supervision of young children. Dogs who have bitten before will likely bite again, so the family should have taken precautions.

Were you bitten by someone else’s dog? If so, the Florida dog bite attorneys at Meldon Law can assist you with physical, emotional, and financial recovery. We have three offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, and Fort Lauderdale. Call (800) 373-3000 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation.

Resource:

msn.com/en-us/news/crime/family-dog-mauls-to-death-toddler-left-alone-with-young-brothers/ar-AANcyFS?li=BBnb7Kz

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