Teen attacked by pit bull

(Photo Sun-Sentinel/Robert Duyos)
Apr 17, 2007

By Marlene Naanes
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted April 18 2007

Hollywood -- A father of three shot and killed his neighbor's pit bull after the dog bit his 15-year-old son and cornered the teen and his younger brother in a bedroom of their home, police said.

Greg Hernandez said he received a frantic phone call Monday night from his son, Dakota Liles, who was screaming that the neighbor's dog, Bruno, was after him. Liles and his brother, Dominic Hernandez, had taken their dog, Diamond, to their backyard, which they share with Bruno's owner, and the 80-pound pit bull ran at the boys, the boys' father said.

The pit bull bit Dakota Liles' leg and wouldn't let go, the teen said. He and his 13-year-old brother ran into their home, in the 2400 block of Thomas Street, and Liles pushed Bruno aside just as Diamond jumped on top of the attacking pit bull, Liles said.

The brothers ran to a back bedroom and shut the door. Their older brother, Dalon Liles, who had been in the kitchen, fled outside and watched the dog almost busting through the door.

"I saw the dog ramming its head and biting the door knob," Liles said. "He wanted to kill them. There was no stopping at all. It was just rage at the door."

That's when their father said he arrived with a neighbor's gun and shot the dog four times. The dog came toward him while he was shooting and then ran out the door, collapsing a quarter-mile away, he said.

Paramedics treated Dakota Liles at his home and his father took him to a doctor, police said. Diamond, a mixed-breed dog a little smaller than the pit bull, had a few scratches.

The pit bull's owner, Candy Lee Salos, said her dog is usually chained while it's in the backyard and she doesn't know how it got loose. The 7-year-old dog is aggressive toward anyone except Salos, said her live-in boyfriend, George Perez. It once bit him on his leg, he said. The couple said they were at work during Monday's attack.

Police are investigating and have not issued any citations.

The teen has two puncture wounds on his left calf and is out of school for 10 days, his father said. The younger brother has not slept in his room since the attack because he's scared, Greg Hernandez said.

Liles, a freshman at South Broward High, was taking antibiotics and pain medication Tuesday and said he was happy he wasn't hurt worse.

Hernandez said that while his children were terrified to go near the pit bull, he befriended the dog. He fed Bruno hot dogs until the dog would take them from his hand -- something Perez backs up.

Hernandez said he feels bad he killed the dog. He said he and his family, who've owned pit bulls in the past, thought the dog was "beautiful" and saw how gentle he was with Salos.

This attack comes on the heels of a vicious attack by a pack of dogs -- that included pit bulls -- in Deerfield Beach in March that left a man in critical condition. Last year, a large breed dog, a Presa Canario, fatally mauled his 30-year-old owner in Coral Springs. Police shot the dog after the attack.

Hollywood Commissioner Cathy Anderson, an animal lover, has often pushed to get restrictions against pit bulls within city limits. She said she was frustrated by the state law that makes it illegal for breed-specific bans. Only Miami-Dade has a ban against pit bulls, passed before the state law took effect.

"I wish we could do something about it," she said.

Staff Writer Ihosvani Rodriguez and Staff Researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report. Marlene Naanes can be reached at mnaanes@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7922.

 

Pit Bull Killed After Alleged Attack On Teen

(CBS4) HOLLYWOOD

A Hollywood man shot and killed a neighbor's pit bull after it reportedly attacked his children.

Greg Hernandez told police the dog bit his 15-year old son after it cornered the boy, and his younger brother, in a bedroom of their home. Hearing their cries for help, Hernandez said he ran to a neighbor's house, got a gun, returned home, and shot the dog four times as it lunged at him.

The 15-year old, who was bitten in the leg, is going to be okay. The dog's owner said her dog is usually chained in the backyard and doesn't know how it got loose.