Homestead Boy Protects Younger Child In Dog Attack
HOMESTEAD (CBS4) - A 7-year-old Homestead put himself between a 4-year-old relative and an angry dog Thursday night, police said, protecting the younger boy from being mauled.The older boy was hospitalized after he was injured by the dog.
Homestead police spokesperson Fernando Morales said the dog dug under the fence to escape from the property of a nearby business and find it's way in to the backyard of the home where the children were playing.
"As the dog started barking at the children, and attempting to attack the children, the 7-year-old grabbed a 4-year-old little brother and another 4-year-old friend and threw them under a car," Morales said. "The child threw himself under the 4-year-old, basically shielding him from the dog."
Morales said the dog, a German shepherd, began to maul the older child.
The dog and the children were separated, and the dog was later taken away my Miami-Dade Animal Services.
The boy was airlifted to Miami Children's Hospital, where staples were used to close wounds to his head and shoulder.
Morales said the two 4-year-old boys were unhurt thanks to the quick action of the older boy, and said that boy's injuries were not severe.
Police said it;s not yet known what will be done with the dog, but the father of the injured boy told CBS4 News that wants the dog to be destroyed.
