Dog euthanized; second grader returning to school next week

Mike Christopherson, Managing Editor
Friday, May 18, 2007 www.crookstontimes.com

Rather than wait for the process of having their dog officially declared dangerous to be completed - which would likely lead to it being euthanized - the owners of the Japanese Akita that bit two siblings on South Ash Street within the past three weeks requested Thursday that the Akita be euthanized.

An agreement authorizing the euthanasia was subsequently signed, and the Akita was put down Thursday afternoon, according to a release from Crookston Police Chief Tim Motherway. The appropriate testing will now be conducted to determine whether or not the dog had rabies.

The dog was chained in the backyard at 432 South Ash Street in the Woods Addition. On April 28, Haley Fillion, 6, tried to pet the dog and it bit her in the stomach. Then, this past Monday, Haley's older brother, Wyatt Fillion, 8, was attacked by the same chained-up dog and needed approximately 500 stitches to close wounds on his face, neck and arms. He went home from Altru Hospital in Grand Forks on Wednesday.

The dog had been impounded since the Monday incident.

Wyatt's progress

Wyatt's mom, Christine Fillion, told the Times this morning that doctors at Altru examined Wyatt this morning and said his recovery is going very well. The stitches in his face will be removed Monday, she said, and the stiches in his arm will be removed Wednesday.

Most encouraging, though, is that Wyatt is going back to Washington School on Tuesday. Initially, his parents feared he'd miss the remaining two-plus weeks of the school year and return in the fall.

"But he really wants to get back," Christine said.

Washington teachers visited Wyatt at home Thursday. His mom said he has a new bulletin board to display all the cards he's received.