Two children injured in dog attacks

http://www.wthr.com
April 1, 2009 04:17: PM
April 1, 2009 05:05: PM
Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis, In. --Two children survived dog attacks in incidents a few days apart and police have a warning for parents. It all happened in their own neighborhood.

A 12-year-old boy was bitten by a dog in the 1900 block of South Gladstone in Indianapolis. A few days later a dog attacked an eight-year-old girl in the 900 block of North Gladstone.

Jeremy Lee, 12, showed us six stitches from a pit bull bite.

"It looks bad. You see that skin coming off," he said.

On March 20 he rescued a two-year-old from a pit bull named Scooby. Jeremy says the toddler tried to pet Scooby.

"So when I threw him to Michael, the dog's owner, I turned around and the dog just bit me," said Jeremy.

Scooby's owner Christian Flores keeps him chained near the backyard. Flores posted "beware of dog" signs out front to warn people. Still, an animal control officer cited Flores for violating Owner Responsibility, Care & Treatment related to the tethering, No Rabies Vaccinations and No Permanent ID.

Police say a different pit bull bit an eight-year-old girl four days later.

Jazmin Pike was walking north on Gladstone when her mother says the dog broke free.

"Bit her on the left high leg and she started crying. My mother saw it and chased after the dog," said Katie Pike, Jazmin's mother.

Animal control officers wrote dog owner Ricardo Mercera Cruz five citations including Owner Responsibility, No Vaccinations and No Identification. Cruz's family said they are not sure if they even want their dog back because they can't prevent the animal from jumping over the fence.

"I was really upset and scared. I thought I was going to lose her," said Pike.

Both Jazmin and Jeremy are okay after surviving the same scary experience. Meantime, both dog owners will go to court later this month for those animal control citations.