Pit Bull Bites Rapid City Two-Year-Old
www.keloland.com
August 24, 2005, RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA -- So far this year, Animal Control officers in Rapid City have responded to more dog and cat bites than usual... 173 to date.The most recent happened Monday when a pit bull attacked a two-year-old girl. And today, her father says he's thankful she's still alive. Everette LeRoy loves afternoons like this... spending time with his daughter picking dandelions.
LeRoy said, "I'm glad my daughter is with me today."
On Monday, a pit bull dog was chained to a fence in this back yard when little Knikkie LeRoy wandered too close.
LeRoy said, "You know, I took my eyes off for a brief second and that's all it took. I heard the dog growling and by that time he was already on top of her."
LeRoy fought to get the pit bull off of her. LeRoy said, "Until when I looked the second time, that's when she started bleeding all over."
The dog bit her several times in the face. She was taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital for treatment and animal control officers captured the dog.Animal Control officers say this is the second time the dog has attacked a person. The owner, a family friend. was warned just last month.
LeRoy said, "The dog was supposed to be wearing a muzzle."
Kinikke looks much better today, but had her father not been close, he fears the incident could have been much worse.
LeRoy said, "I mean it's a scary feeling. I mean I could have lost my daughter's life.She always crys around 'puppy did this' and she points at her scars and stuff."
The Humane Society of the Black Hills is holding the dog, and animal control officers plan to euthanize the dog tomorrow morning.
