Child attacked by neighbor's dog

Thursday, May 24, 2007
By JANELLE MARTINEZ / WCNC
E-mail Janelle: JMartinez@WCNC.com

Nine-year-old Jasmine Gwine sat on the front porch of her west Charlotte home with teeth marks and gashes all over her body. She had stitches on her face, a hole in her arm and the top part of her left ear was ripped off.

“I was walking home and the dog broke the chain,” Gwine said.

She’s recovering from an attack by a neighborhood dog that happened Tuesday night. The dog was a 1-year-old pit bull named Rocky.

It was chained to a stake in the backyard of a friend’s house. She said the dog ran toward her, breaking the chain and knocking her to the ground.

Her 13-year-old friend pulled the dog off of her.

Jasmine's mother, Lorraine Johnson, was about 100 yards away and heard the screams.

“The only thing I saw was a little blood at the top (of her head),” said Johnson. I didn't see the rest, and then when I looked at it I seen how bad it was.”

The owners of the pit bull surrendered the animal to Animal Control shortly after the attack happened Tuesday evening.

He was euthanized Wednesday after Animal Control officers said they verified the animal had received its rabies shots.