Dog That Attacked Sale Creek Youngster May Have to be Destroyed

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – The little boy from Sale Creek who was bitten and critically injured by a dog yesterday morning, is said to be out of surgery and in satisfactory condition.
But incident started a broader discussion on social media that included prayers for the family, and a defense of the dog itself.

It was at a home up this long driveway in Sale Creek that a 10 year old boy was critically hurt yesterday when he was attacked by a dog.
He spent most of the day in surgery..and his parents, Vanassa and Danny Lynn went on facebook to ask for prayers.
Their son’s name has not been released.

BOB CITRULLO, EXEC.DIR.,HUMANE EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY "No one wants to get bit by an animal,obviously. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the young man and his family …hopefully he’ll have a speedy recovery."

The Humane Educational Society picked up the dog, a pit bull, a few hours later and brought it to the shelter.

BOB CITRULLO "From what I’ve seen I know the dog will bite." "I feel very certain this dog will not make it out of here."

That event set-off a day long debate on facebook and other social media about what should be done with a dog that can can dangerous.
This one will be held for 10 days as required by law, and likely will have to be destroyed.
But the Humane Society doesn’t make those decisions arbitrarily and it doesn’t point a finger at pit bulls.

BOB CITRULLO "It’s not so much the breed as it is the people and how they raised them …that’s where the problem is."

The shelter has several pit bulls that are stable and loving and will be adopted out, according to Citrullo.
But in this case, investigators say in this case, the animal has proven to be a danger.
It was owned by a man who was staying on the property temporarily.
Why the attack occurred has not been determined.
The Hamilton county Sheriff’s department reports the dog that attacked the boy was owned by a man who was staying on the property temporarily.
He turned the animal over to the Humane Society.