Third-grade girl attacked by pit bull


KOMO TV
February 22, 2008

A Seattle third-grader is recovering after a "gory" pit bull attack Tuesday in West Seattle that ripped open her upper lip.

The male dog that bit her is now locked up and quarantined to be sure it is not rabid. The owner's other dog, a female pit bull, is also locked up at a shelter, because it was wandering when animal control officers arrived. But both dogs could be returned to the owner soon unless the city attorney brings criminal charges against the owner, and the owner is convicted.

The girl, named Maysia, was walking in her own backyard when she was attacked, said her dad, Richard Moore. Moore said the two dogs were tied up in the backyard of his mom's house next door. His mother was watching the dogs for her niece who was moving.

"They was chained up inside of here. We had 'em right here," Moore said. Then, somehow, the male pit bull got off the chain.

"And the dog was kind of jumping at me (and) biting me," Moore said, "And we got into my mom's house and somehow my daughter came out our back door ... and came right around the fence."

That's when said the dog spotted Maysia and lunged for her, Moore said. "He bit her. I guess jumped up on her and bit her lip. It was very gory. I mean I don't know how to handle it," Moore said.

"I can handle many situations, but I can't handle a dog bite. I did not know what to do with her lip was so split open like that I mean."

Moore said he doesn't know what provoked the dog.

An animal control officer at the shelter said the 3-year-old dog is not neutered. Animal control officers will keep both pit bulls locked up while they complete their investigation.

The owner could be charged with negligent control of an animal and owning a dangerous animal. The investigator's report will go to the city attorney, who will decide if the dogs' owner should be charged.

Even though the pit bull bit someone, it is still not considered dangerous. Under Seattle city code, the owner must be convicted of owning a dangerous animal, for the dog to be labeled dangerous.

Without a conviction, the dogs will likely just go back to the owner. As for Maysia, it appears she will be fine. Her mom and dad said the surgeons did a great job lining up her skin and stitching it, doing their best to avoid a scar.