CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (WSVN) - Two boys and were taken to the hospital after, police said, they and their mother were attacked inside their Coral Springs home by the dog they were fostering, leading the older boy to take matters into his own hands.
Coral Springs Police and Fire Rescue crews responded to the home along Northwest 106th Avenue and 105th Terrace at around 2:30 p.m., Friday.
Investigators said the boys are 11 and 12 years old, and their mother is 35.
Police said the family was fostering a pit bull.
“Most likely, [it started as] just a regular playful interaction,” said Coral Springs Police officer Chris Swinson.
But just after 2:15 p.m., police said, the dog went after the younger boy and bit him in the face.
His brother tried to intervene and was bitten in the back of the head.
“Which alerted the mother to the incident,” said Swinson.
When she got involved, investigators said, the dog bit her on the arm and hand.
“At that time, the older brother, 12 years of age, ended up separating the dog from the mom,” said Swinson.
Police said the attack ended when the 12-year-old grabbed a knife and stabbed the dog in the back.
The boy then went to a neighbor for help.
“He did have, like, a little bit of a gouge on the back of his neck, but that’s it,” said the neighbor.
The family owns other dogs, and there is a dog training business attached to their address, but police said the pit bull has only been at the home for two to three weeks. The family had been trying to find a home for the canine.
Neighbor Guido Telmosse said he’s shocked that one of those dogs attacked the family.
“When they walk on the street with him, they don’t bother anybody. I don’t understand,” he said. “I mean … the dog never comes near anybody.”
Another neighbor said the details are even more distressing, because the family was trying to do something nice: find a home for the dog.
The 11-year-old boy was airlifted to Broward Health Medical Center as a trauma alert. He will probably require surgery, but it does not appear his injuries are life-threatening.
His brother was transported by ground and is expected to be OK.
“It’s incredibly brave for a 12-year-old, I mean, to instinctively worry about protecting his 11-year-old brother, something that’s going to be with them for the rest of their lives, and it’s heartbreaking,” said Swinson.
The boys’ mother was treated for her arm injury at the scene.
The dog was taken to an animal hospital for treatment. It has since been euthanized.
A GoFundMe page has been created for the family to help with expenses. If you would like to make a donation, click here.
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