Child Remains in Hospital after Pit Bull Attack | WREG.com ...

Posted on: 4:40 pm, June 11, 2012, by Elise Preston, updated on: 07:45pm, June 11, 2012

(Memphis)? The toddler mauled by his neighbor?s pit bull is expected to undergo surgery sometime Monday at Le Bonheur Children?s Hospital. According to the owner?s dogs, the child was attacked after wandering into their backyard Saturday.

The pit bull, named Cannibal,? is being quarantined at animal control. His owners were fined $50 by animal control because he wasn?t neutered. Statistics show, animals that haven?t been fixed are more likely to be aggressive.

?He chained up, locked up, fenced in.? said Reggie Johnson, the owner of the pit bull that mauled a 2-year-old boy.

But that could have been what set 4-year-old pit bull Cannibal off and sent the toddler to the hospital in extremely critical condition.

According to the Memphis and Shelby County Humane Society, chained dogs are 3 times more likely to attack.

? They cant flee. If they perceive a threat, whether it be a 2-year-old child, a 200 pound man or another dog. There is only one way out of that situation.? said Keery Sneed with the Human Society.

Kerry Sneed goes into area schools teaching? kids the dangers of chaining dogs. She says its in the safety of the community, not do it. For the dogs, she says, it makes them unsociable.

?It doesn?t matter the breed, it just so happens the majority of chained dogs are pit bulls.? said Sneed.

So, how should you confine your pets?

? Ideally, they should be part of your family, part of your daily life.? expressed Sneed.

But if you can?t have your dogs in your home, she says a fence is always good.
Even if a dog appears to be happy in a fence.

? A child should never approach a dog they don?t know without supervision.? remarked Sneed.

Sneed stresses not to stare directly into the eyes of the animal.

?It makes you seem like a threat, and you want to be as non-threatening as possible.? advised Sneed.

If the child survives the attack, the dog could live. If the child dies, state law mandates, the dog be put down. No criminal charges have been filed.

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