Dog Attack In California Leaves Toddler Seriously Injured

A toddler, one month shy of his second birthday, was viciously attacked by a dog in southwest Riverside County, California, reports KTLA. According to the report, the animal involved in the dog attack was identified to be a Labrador mix named Dexter, which has since then been impounded by the Department of Animal Services. The dog is believed to be six-years-old and has had no history of such attacks.

The toddler who was attacked has not been identified yet – but his family members have released photos of the child recuperating at the hospital. While his injuries are serious, the boy is expected to survive and recover fully. According to the KTLA report, the toddler suffered serious injuries to his face, as confirmed by officials from the Department of Animal Services. According to a statement issued by a spokesman for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, the attack took place at around 3 p.m. on Friday at Primrose Park in French Valley. It was initially reported that the toddler was with his grandparents when the dog attacked. Later, it was confirmed that the boy’s mother and a friend were nearby as the attack happened.

According to Sgt. Lesley Huennekens from the animal services department, the dog was initially told to be a black Rottweiler. However, after identification by the friend of the toddler’s mother, it was identified to be a Labrador. This came as a surprise for many because Labradors are among the most non-aggressive dogs one could ever come across.

Huennekens described the incident thus;

“Both the mother and the friend were close by when they heard the boy screaming. We have been told that the dog seemingly came out of nowhere when the child was attacked. The friend reportedly helped grab the dog away from the child. The boy’s mother picked up her son and ran to her car and headed straight to a nearby hospital.”

Following an evaluation by doctors at the hospital, it was found that the toddler’s injuries were “extremely critical” in nature.

Meanwhile, the family has released photos of the kind of injuries the toddler had received. In one of the flyers distributed initially by the family to help them identify the dog, a bloody gash on the forehead of the child is clearly visible. The boy’s father, who is an U.S. Army personnel stationed at Camp Pedleton, has flown back home after the incident and is seen in one of the photos.

Meanwhile, the dog, Dexter remains impounded at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. Depending on the results of a hearing to determine if the dog is safe enough to be returned to its owner, Dexter will be released or could be euthanized. What is going in favor of Dexter is the fact that he had had no history of aggressive behavior and has been vaccinated for rabies, micro-chipped, and neutered.

Officials are still investigating as to what provoked the dog to attack the toddler.

[Images Via Facebook]