Police: Dog That Attacked Boy Found Slain
Boy Needed Stitches To Thumb, Staples To Scalp After Attack, Mother Says
POSTED: 10:09 am MST June 23,
2009
UPDATED: 6:44 am MST June 24,
2009
PHOENIX -- The dog that attacked a 3-year-old boy Sunday night was found dead in the Agua Fria River bed Tuesday morning, authorities said.According to a news release from the El Mirage Police Department, the dog's carcass was taken to the Maricopa County Rabies Animal Control facility to be tested for rabies.Police said it appeared the dog had been shot three times.Cristina Ortega, whose son needed stitches after the attack, identified the dog, police said.Ortega and her son Ismael were out back at a neighbor's house Sunday night on West Columbine Drive celebrating Father's Day when the brown and white pit bull wandered into the back yard.The dog grabbed the boy by the back of his head and would not let go.The boy's father and two other men were eventually able to free the boy. The boy's father was slightly injured on the arm in the process.The boy's thumb was almost bitten off and a large chunk of his scalp at the back of his head was torn away. Doctors were able to stitch his thumb and staple his scalp. The boy is expected to make a full recovery; however, he is undergoing a series of rabies shots as a precaution.The investigation into the dog's death is ongoing, police said.
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