FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Broward County Animal Control removed a dog from a Lauderhill home hours after, police said, the animal attacked an 11-year-old boy, sending him to the hospital.
7News captured a man speaking to the dog after it was placed in an Animal Control Vehicle, Friday morning.
“Papa’s coming to get you,” he is heard saying.
“We were initially contacted by the Lauderhill Police Department to pick up an animal that they had in their custody,” said Broward County Animal Control Officer Philip Goen.
Lauderhill Police and Fire Rescue personnel responded to a home in the area of Northwest 73rd Avenue and 44th Court at around 8:20 p.m., Thursday.
According to fire rescue, the boy was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in serious condition.
“Coming on scene, we learned that there were a few more details involved, that it was involved in an animal bite,” said Goen, “so our officers responded to the homeowner’s address to try and gather more information.”
Police said the boy was visiting relatives when he and two other children went outside to play video games.
That’s when the homeowner’s dog followed the children out, and the canine, at some point, began barking and lunged forward, grabbing and biting the child’s left arm, police said.
The dog remained in the homeowner’s care on Thursday night.
The next morning, however, Animal Control visited the home and left with the dog in their custody.
“It’s been placed into a rabies quarantine right now, and that quarantine is going to be taking place for the full 10 days,” said Goen. “Now, whether that quarantine cotinues to take place at our facility or the home environment has not been determined yet.”
Police said it’s unclear why the dog attacked, but it has not been declared vicious.
“This dog is not receiving any sort of label at this time,” said Goen. “It is only under investigation because of the animal bite, and all of the details and severities are currently being investigated from all parties.”
Animal Control investigators said they will attempt to determine whether the children were playing rough with the dog, or whether the attack was unprovoked.
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