Girl Injured After Being Bitten By Dog In Beechview
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- An 11-year-old girl was treated at Children's Hospital Wednesday evening after she was attacked by a dog while walking home from school in Beechview.
The incident happened near the corner of Saranac and Shiras Avenues.
The girl and her brother were walking home from school around 3 p.m. when a large dog, described by neighbors as a Mastiff breed, escaped from its owner's property, which is fenced in.
A man driving by the scene witnessed the girl being mauled, got out of his vehicle and pulled the dog off of the girl.
That particular breed of canine is sometimes referred to as a "gentle giant" because of its size. Police said this dog may have weighed in excess of 80 pounds.
Dan Donahoe was driving in the neighborhood when the attack took place.
He told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti: "The girl was lying face down, the dog was on top of her."
Donahoe jumped out of his car and started to yell at the dog to scare him off.
"The animal was sort of stunned and looked at me, then ran back on the owner's porch," Donahoe said.
The little girl's brother was not injured.
There's no word on the girl's condition, but the man who helped her said she was alert and talking. She suffered injuries to her head, neck and back.
The dog may remain in its home for the time being because it appears to have had all its shots and its paperwork is up to date. It will be quarantined for seven to 10 days.
Police said the owner has not been cited, and it appears the dog somehow escaped through a gap in a wooden fence around the owner's yard.
Pittsburgh Animal Control is investigating.
The girl was treated for head, neck and back bites at UPMC Children's Hospital.
RELATED LINKS:
More Beechview News
More Local News
