6-year-old in hospital after dog attack


TONY BURBECK/WCNC
February 7, 2008

CONCORD, N.C. -- A chained up Rottweiler attacked a 6-year-old boy Wednesday, leaving him with injuries that required hours of surgery. Cabarrus County deputies say the dog did not belong to Jimmy Smith, the man taking care of it.

Smith, whose yard is filled with dogs chained to posts, invited neighbors over for a birthday party Wednesday.

Deputies say Caleb Setzer, 6, came with his family and approached the Rottweiler while the adults were inside. That’s when deputies say the 120-pound dog attacked the little boy. The aftermath is caught on a 911 tape.

"A dog is attacking a child,” an unidentified woman yells.

Setzer and the woman are screaming. The 911 operator keeps her calm.

"I need you to stop screaming, ma'am,” the 911 operator said. "Is he breathing?” the operator asked.

"Is he breathing, is he breathing?” the woman asks other people in the house.

“He's breathing,” she said.

Setzer has head, face, neck and leg wounds. He was listed in serious condition following hours of surgery at Northeast Medical Center. His injuries are reportedly not life threatening

A firefighter who responded to the 911 call says there will be scars and stitches.

As for the Rottweiler, deputies say Smith was watching it for a friend who apparently didn't want, wouldn't or couldn't take it back when Smith tried to return it.

"Just don't go near the dog until we get there, ok?” the operator said.

“OK,” the woman responded.

But deputies say Smith shot and killed the Rottweiler before they got there.

The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office is still looking into whether charges will be filed as a result of what happened. .

 

Six-year-old attacked by dog remains in serious condition


By Josh Lanier/Independent Tribune
February 8, 2008

A 6-year-old Midland boy remained in serious condition at CMC-NorthEast late Thursday after being mauled by a dog on Wednesday.

The boy, whose name has not been released, received multiple lacerations to the back of his head, neck, face and legs after he got too close to the chained animal, police said.

The attack happened while the boy and family members were at Jimmy Smith’s home, located at 15525 Hopewell Church Road, Midland, an adult neighbor who was having a birthday party, said Cabarrus County Sheriff Captain Phillip Patterson.

Smith was caring for the Rottweiler, which was between 3 and 4 years old and weighed 125 pounds, for a friend and had made previous attempts to return the dog, Patterson said.

Smith killed the dog with a .22 caliber rifle after he saw the boy’s injuries, Patterson said.

The boy’s family would not comment Thursday on the incident.

Midland Fire Chief Allen Burnette, whose officers were first on the scene, said the dog had been killed before rescuers arrived and it appeared to be chained.

Burnette said several other dogs were in the yard at the time.

Cabarrus County Animal Control officers collected the dog and sent its remains to a Raleigh lab for rabies testing. An answer is expected in the next two days, police said.

Animal Control officials said no complaints had ever been filed about the Rottweiler or Smith. No charges have been filed and police are investigating