Thursday, June 28, 2012

Family dog mauls 4-year-old Kodak boy

TENNESSEE -- A four-year-old Kodak boy was severely injured Wednesday night when he was mauled by his family's dog.

The attack on Wyatt Wilcoxson was reported around 8:30 p.m. at his family's home, 2753 Kentwood Drive.


The Sevier County Sheriff's Office said the family's 11-year-old Rottweiler named "Moose" attacked the boy while he was outside playing with a ball.

The boy's mother and grandfather were with him when the dog attacked and pulled it off him. He was flown to UT Medical Center for treatment.

Wyatt's injuries include: around 20 staples to his head and neck, facial lacerations, part of his right ear was torn off and puncture wounds to his neck and legs. One of his eyelids was torn off, but it was re-attached.

The family told the sheriff's office they had the dog from the time it was six weeks old, and they had never seen it behave aggressively before. They said they didn't know why it attacked Wyatt.

The dog was euthanized Thursday morning, at the family's request.

(WATE - June 28, 2012)