Dog attacks small child on reservation

09/28/2007
By Phil Wright
of the East Oregonian

MISSION - Earlier this week a dog attacked and injured a five-year-old girl at a Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority site on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

JaeLynn Rodriguez reportedly received injuries to her head and face in the attack, which occurred about 4 p.m. Sunday at 35 Willow Drive in the Mission area.

Acting Chief of Tribal Police Lt. Robert Fossek issued a press release this morning about the incident. He said the injuries were considered major for a child this age.

The EO wasn't able to confirm who owned the dog, but Fossek said Tribal Police seized the animal and no charges have been filed at this time.

Fossek also said the case is under investigation.

JaeLynn Rodriguez and her family returned home Thursday after she underwent surgery at St. Mary's Medical Center in Walla Walla.

Her father, Troy Rodriguez, said his daughter was going to play at a nearby neighbor's house when a tethered German shepherd attacked her.

Rodriguez said he didn't know what provoked the dog, but it seemed it had taken his daughter to the ground and bit her.

Tribal emergency services responded to the incident and a tribal ambulance transported the girl to St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton.

Larry Blanc, St. Anthony's director of communication, said she was treated at the hospital and then transferred to St. Mary Medical Center.

Rodriguez said he didn't want to give details about the events or the extent of her injuries, but he did call them serious.

After surgery Sunday the hospital placed her in an intensive care unit before releasing her Thursday afternoon.

"She's doing OK," Rodriguez said, "starting to get back to herself."
He also said she should resume kindergarten next week.

Barbara Roloff has been the director of the Umatilla Reservation Housing Authority for almost two years. She said under her watch this is the first instance of a dog attack at a URHA site, but she has heard about past dog problems.

Roloff decline to comment further, however, until checking in with the Public and Legal Affairs office of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Roloff didn't return phone calls by press time.