The boy, who was bitten on the right cheek, was flown to St. Mary's Medical Center, West Palm Beach, a fire official said. The mother was taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute after being bitten on the ear, said Battalion Chief Scott West.
The dog was described as a pit bull mix. The incident happened at 1:10 p.m. at the family's home on Byron Street near Sportsman's Park. The names of the child and mother weren't released.
The owners turned the dog over to Port St. Lucie Animal Control. It will be put in a mandatory 10-day quarantine "because of the vicious attack," said police spokesman Master Sgt. Frank Sabol. The dog will be housed by the Humane Society of St. Lucie County.
Reader Comments
Do not make the mistake of humanizing this behavior. Dogs are always innocent as they take all of their cues on how to behave from their masters.
There is more to this story that we are not hearing. Rarely do we get the whole story when something like this occurs. It is always easier to blame the dog and to 'euthanize' the problem.
When I was a young child, my family had an akita as a pet. She was a calm and beautiful dog and we never had any issues with her.
Until one day when I was heading to bed for the night, I wanted to give our dog a hug and kiss goodnight. She happened to be under the kitchen table at the time, which was her favorite quiet spot to go to when she wanted to be left alone.
Being a six year old child, I didn't understand that she wanted to be left alone. As I gave her a hug around the neck, she bit me on the face. It wasn't a serious bite, but it was enough to warrant six stitches.
Sadly, my father determined that the best action was to have her euthanized. Which, if he had asked me, I would not have wanted to do.
Even ag that young age I understood that it was not her fault that she bit me. I invaded her space when I should have known better.
Honestly, we should have never owned that breed of dog when my sister and I were so young. Akitas are known to be very territorial and jealous of their private time. They are also known to not appreciate physical forms of affection.
Had my parents researched the breed's proclivities and not just appreciated its physical attributes, I wouldn't have this scar on my face.
Public education is key. Education of canine psychology and how best to choose and appreciate the proper breed for your household is the key to reversing the negativity surrounding dog ownership.
Oh, and another thing, people who drive their cars with their dogs on their laps should be taken out behind the shed and shot.