Monday, April 30, 2012

Young girl bitten by dog at playground

RHODE ISLAND -- Dana Harrell is calling on Middletown school officials to build a fence around the playground at Aquidneck Elementary School.

Harrell's 5 year old daughter, Saylor, was bitten by a French bulldog and now she tells her mother her leg shakes from the dog bite.

 

It happened when her daughter was at an after care program run by the Newport County YMCA, but was held at her school, Aquidneck Elementary.

Saylor was on a swing when the dog came up from behind and bit her leg.

"I don't want Saylor to be afraid of dogs, but right now, it's still in her mind," said Harrell.

Harrell, who is a lawyer, says she has received apologies from the dog owner, YMCA, and school staff.

However, she says despite making several calls to the schools superintendent, her calls have not been returned.

Harrell wants the school to build a fence near the playground area, a simple solution she says could stop another child from being attacked again.

"I'm not asking for security guards or cameras, it's a fence, it's a win win situation  I just don't want to worry about it and I don't want it to happen to anyone else," said Harrell.

The Middletown schools' assistant superintendent returned our phone call and said the department had no comment at this time.

(Providence Eyewitness News - April 27, 2012)