6-Year-Old Attacked by Dog
www.robesonian.com
March 8, 2006, LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA - Authorities say the family of a 6-year-old victim of a dog attack took revenge on the family pet by killing it, shooting it at least eight times and then stabbing it with a pitch fork.
The victim, Alexus Nance, was reportedly bitten at least twice Thursday afternoon by a husky-chow mix at her grandparents' house on Lee Britt Road, according to sheriff's Detective Sgt. Kathy Torre.
The child underwent surgery at Southeastern Regional Medical Center for injuries to her face and head. She has been released from the medical center.
She had to have surgery on her jaw area, and she had a cut on her left eye lid, Torre said.
The girl's grandfather, John Britt, reported the incident to sheriff's investigators about 5 p.m. Britt told authorities that the dog was chained at his home when the girl was attacked.
The family described the girl as a lover of animals, Torre said.
Authorities think a family member may have killed the dog, but they are not sure who.
Buddy Britt, the girl's uncle, reported he found the dog dead with multiple gunshot and stab wounds Thursday night after returning from the hospital. Buddy Britt said there were two other dogs at the home that were missing.
The family could not be reached for comment.
A Robeson County animal control officer picked up the dead dog so that it could be checked for rabies, the sheriff's report said. That involves removing the animal's brain and sending it to a lab in Raleigh.
Authorities are investigating the incident, but it is unclear if charges will be brought against whoever killed the dog.
Robeson County animal cruelty officer Katherine Floyd said state law allows a person to kill an animal if it is attacking a human or livestock. But Floyd said that's typically when a dog has wandered onto someone else's property.
I'm not sure at this point whether any laws have been violated, she said. I've never had to deal with a case like this.
