(Fullerton Police Dept.) |
FULLERTON -- A 3-year-old girl is hospitalized in intensive care after being mauled by the family pit bull.
It happened just before 8:00 p.m. Monday at the family's home in the 200 block of Costa Court.
Investigators say the girl and her mother took food to the dog, which was tied up in the backyard
The mother went back inside the house, leaving her daughter outside with the dog, said Fullerton Police Sgt. Mike MacDonald.
Minutes later the girl's 11-year-old brother, who was watching television inside with his father, heard screams from the backyard.
He went outside and found "Fly" -- a male pit bull standing over his sister, MacDonald said.
The girl's parents drove her to St. Jude Medical Center.
She was later transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and treated for severe puncture wounds to the face and neck.
The 4-year-old pit bull was taken to Orange County Animal Care Services, said Ryan Drabek, a spokesman for the shelter.
"The owners have released the dog to us for euthanasia," Drabek said
Police are investigating the attack as a case of child neglect but have not yet decided whether charges will be filed.
It happened just before 8:00 p.m. Monday at the family's home in the 200 block of Costa Court.
Investigators say the girl and her mother took food to the dog, which was tied up in the backyard
The mother went back inside the house, leaving her daughter outside with the dog, said Fullerton Police Sgt. Mike MacDonald.
Minutes later the girl's 11-year-old brother, who was watching television inside with his father, heard screams from the backyard.
He went outside and found "Fly" -- a male pit bull standing over his sister, MacDonald said.
The girl's parents drove her to St. Jude Medical Center.
She was later transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and treated for severe puncture wounds to the face and neck.
The 4-year-old pit bull was taken to Orange County Animal Care Services, said Ryan Drabek, a spokesman for the shelter.
"The owners have released the dog to us for euthanasia," Drabek said
Police are investigating the attack as a case of child neglect but have not yet decided whether charges will be filed.
