Girl bitten by pit bull

http://www.theleafchronicle.com

June 26, 2009
By Tavia D. Green

Clarksville, TN. --A Clarksville man was cited after a pit bull in his care attacked an 8-year-old girl Tuesday evening while she and her friend were riding a bicycle near her Friar Drive home.

Norman Prevo, who gave a 304 Robin Hood Drive address, was cited for dog at large, said David Selby, director of Montgomery County Animal Control.

Prevo was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

Samantha Weinberger, 8, was one of 368 victims of animal bites reported to Animal Control since July 1, 2008.

Melissa Weinberger, Samantha's mother, said Samantha was a passenger on a bike she was riding with her friend when the pit bull came from its backyard, where it had been chained. The two girls stopped the bike, and the dog sniffed and playfully gnawed at the little girl who was driving the bike. The girl tried to send the dog away with her foot to get him to back away, Melissa Weinberger said.

The pit bull turned his attention to Samantha and began chewing at her, then aggressively biting her.

Melissa Weinberger said Samantha ran from the dog to the nearest home, but no one was there. As she ran to the next house, she lost her flip-flops and was repeatedly bitten and scratched on her legs and thighs.

Samantha ran to another neighbor's house, and the woman inside restrained the dog.

Melissa Weinberger said she was doing laundry and cooking when Samantha's friend ran in the house and told her about the attack.

She said she could hear her daughter's screams up the street before she reached her. Her legs were bloody and damaged.

She was taken to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital's emergency room, then by ambulance to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, where she was treated and released.

Samantha had to have 10 to 12 stitches in her right leg and thigh and suffered deep bite marks, scratch marks, bruises and small lacerations.

Prevo was not home at the time of the attack, and the dog was taken by Animal Control as a dangerous dog, Selby said.

Prevo's son came in and reclaimed the dog and paid a fee. Selby said the dog is back home on a 10-day quarantine.