Family pit bull mauls boy, 10, at home

10/16/2009

DELTA — A 10-year-old boy was severely mauled by his family's pit bull yesterday, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The boy's name was unavailable last night. He was attacked by the family pit bull when he walked into his home in the 9000 block of Fulton County Road 11 about 5 p.m. with a computerized baby doll from school, County Dog Warden Peter Skeldon said.

“The baby started crying, and when that happened, the pit bull attacked,” Mr. Skeldon said.

The boy suffered bites to his face, an arm, a leg, and his back, the dog warden said.

Mr. Skeldon said the dog also charged at him and two sheriff's deputies, but he was able to capture it by getting the noose of a catch pole around its neck. He described the dog as a smaller male pit bull weighing 35 to 40 pounds.

The dog warden said he would keep the dog for 10 days, as the law required, to look for signs of disease, then would euthanize it.