Dog Bites One Year Old

A one year old is rushed to the hospital after being bitten by a great dane.  It  happened in Murray County on Monday.  That's when Amber Plott says their new dog bit their 19 month old little girl.  Plott says he's a good dog that didn't mean to hurt her, but she wandered too close to his food at the wrong time.

Now the dog is being examined as little Caydense recovers.  Plott says, "It was pretty scary, she was calmer than what I thought, but it was very scary."

She tells us they'd gotten a dog, a 4 year great dane the day before.  On Monday when she turned to get the door, he brutally bit her baby.  "Set the food bowl wasn't thinking, to answer the door because we had a delivery, just in a second."

Plott explains the dog was used to fighting for his food in his former home, and probably thought Caydense was trying to take it.  "He just kind of chomped at her, realized he done it and backed off, thankfully."

That's when Plott rushed her daughter to hospital where she went through surgery and got more than 60 stitches.  As for the dog, animal control tells us he's being observed for 10 days.  Then a decision will be made whether or not to put him down. 

Murray County Animal Control Director Pauline Davis says, "Right now he's showing no signs of aggression seems to be a good dog, he's confused being in here, but he's not showing any aggressive signs."

Director Pauline Davis says great danes are normally friendly, but they are big.  The dog in this case weighs nearly 200 pounds.  So she says when they feel threatened, they can certainly do some damage, especially around small kids.  Davis says, "Any time you bring in a dog, especially an adult dog, the children should never be unsupervised."

Now, Plott is grateful her little girl is okay, and admits it's an awful situation for a dog who simply didn't know better.  "I know it was an accident he was doing what any other dog would do.  Other than that she's doing very well, very well, back to her old self."

Davis explains that during this 10 day period, the Environmental Health Department will also come to check on the dog.  She adds that the animal did not have a current rabies vaccination.