Cheektowaga Police have now located the owner of a tan pit bull accused of attacking a nine year old boy on Wednesday at Cheektowaga Town Park.
Lt. Tom Wentland tells 7 Eyewitness News that the dog was voluntarily brought in. Police had been trying to find the owner since the incident earlier this week. The owner is now said to be cooperating with authorities. Meanwhile the investigation into the possibility of criminal charges is ongoing.
According to authorities, the nine year old was near the basketball courts when the attack happened. He had his hand through the fence when the dog over powered its owner and bit off part of the child's finger. “A Good Samaritan was there in the park and took the boy home and they took him to the hospital. The part of the finger that was taken off was located and taken to the hospital but they were unable to reattach the finger,” said Cheektowaga Police Assistant Chief Jim Speyer.
The dog and its owner took off. Right now there's no way of knowing the dog's medical history; meaning the child will have to receive rabies treatments unless or until they find the pit bull. Dogs also shouldn't be in that area of the park. That's partially why investigators are calling the owner’s actions irresponsible. “To just leave a nine year old who is severely injured like that behind and leave the scene is very irresponsible.”
The Animal Control Division has now taken custody of the dog which will remain quarantined to eliminate the possibility that the animal is rabid.
