Putnam County toddler seriously injured in dog attack

MELROSE, Fla. – A 2-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in serious condition Tuesday after being mauled by a family dog ​​in Putnam County.

The attack happened Tuesday at a home on South Street in Melrose.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the owners of a dog named “Blueberry” told police the toddler was playing with the dog before the child was attacked.

The dog appears to be a pit bull or pit mix. News4JAX spoke with animal research expert Dr. Jim Crosby on the incident. He is one of the country’s leading experts on animal cruelty, dog fighting and dog attacks.

The owners said the dog growled after the toddler pulled the dog’s ears. The report said the boy’s mother pulled her son away from the dog, but moments later, while she wasn’t looking, her son went back to the dog and the boy was bitten on the face. According to the report, Blueberry’s owners had to pull the dog away from the boy.

“That’s a normal pain response. If the child intervenes again immediately afterwards and grabs the dog’s ears again, then it is normal for a dog to use its teeth to avoid causing you pain,” Crosby said. “It sounds like the dog, in dog terms, tried to give a clear warning: go back. Get out of my sight.’

Officials said the toddler’s left cheek was barely attached and there were other visible injuries on the child’s chin.

One of Blueberry’s owners told a deputy that Blueberry had attacked other dogs before, but had never attacked anyone before.

Investigators said Blueberry’s owners blamed the child for what happened.

“According to the research, sensitivity to other animals does not transfer to humans. The fact that this dog has never attacked a human tells me that this was even more likely a pain response with appropriate warning before the dog became involved,” he said. “When a dog gives a warning, listen. They do it for a reason. They tell you something that you need to recognize. In this case, with the limited information, I suspect the dog said my ears hurt. Don’t grab them.”

Crosby said this attack does not support people’s claims that pits are more dangerous than other dogs.

“We have to look at normal dog behavior, whether it’s a pit, a Great Dane or a chihuahua. It’s just that big dogs make holes. When you’re two years old, a big dog’s mouth will make a big hole,” Crosby said.

Blueberry is now in custody at the Putnam County Animal Control Office.

Crosby has investigated dog attacks involving children. He said fatal and near-death dog attacks on children typically involve a family dog, not one the child doesn’t know.

“2-year-olds are not cruising down Main Street being attacked by stray dogs. It happens in the house. In the family or within the family group,” Crosby said.

Officials said Blueberry will be euthanized as a result of the attack and that the owners are no longer trying to prevent this.