NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A 5-year-old girl is recovering at home one day after she was bitten by a dog who escaped from its yard.
The 50-pound pit bull mix was euthanized by Miami-Dade Animal Services on Thursday.
Now two families are hurting from the tough situation.
Five-year-old Jocelyn needed surgery on her leg after being attacked while she and her mother were walking to church around 7:30 p.m., Wednesday.
“This dog, this pit bull came out over there, and it bit the little girl,” said witness Meryann Ulrick. “Her mom, she turned away, and it bit her, too.”
The dog’s owner shared a video of a child alongside the dog named Bruno.
The owner admitted that Bruno was territorial, and he bit another child in January and he took the dog to Animal Services to be euthanized. However, Miami-Dade Animal Services said they were not made aware of the dog bite at the time, and they released a statement which reads:
“The dog owner brought Bruno into Animal Services in January and requested euthanasia because, he reported, the dog kept escaping his yard. At no time did the dog owner report the dog had bitten a person. Since we do not euthanize healthy animals, and the owner did not report the dog as a biter, we suggested neutering the dog, which he agreed to, and we also updated the dog’s rabies shot and licensed the dog. We also provided the owner with an enclosure to help keep the dog from escaping.”
7News caught up with the owner after Bruno was put to sleep, Thursday.
“I just want to apologize and I’m sorry for what my dog did to the child,” he said. “I hope she is going to be OK and I wish her nothing but the best.”
The family told 7News that Jocelyn is expected to be OK, and that she was released from the hospital overnight.
Miami-Dade Animal Services is investigating this incident.
There is no word on whether the dog owner will be cited.
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