Dog that bit girl to be put down

09/28/2006

CANYONVILLE: The owner of a dog that attacked a 7-year-old Riddle girl last week, sending her to the hospital, plans to have the animal euthanized, authorities said.

The girl was attacked at the home of a family friend in Canyonville Wednesday. The girl was outside with the chained-up pit bull mix and apparently tried to play with the animal, authorities said.

The dog attacked, sending the girl to the hospital where she immediately underwent surgery, said Sgt. Dave Marshall with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. She was discharged Friday from Mercy Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Animal control authorities took the dog to Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center where it will stay in quarantine for 10 days from the day of the bite to be monitored for rabies, Marshall said.

If the dog is found healthy, the owner, James Russell, would have the choice whether to keep the animal. Marshall said Russell has decided to have the dog, which had an expired license, euthanized.

Russell does not face criminal charges for the attack because it happened on his property, Marshall said.