ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Following the Friday dog attack that killed an 8-year-old boy in one Eastern Carolina county, experts are now giving advice to hopefully prevent this from happening to others.
“Unfortunately this was the worst-case scenario,” said Top Dog Academy Co-owner and Dog Trainer Angela Parker.
The sheriff’s office says the attack happened at a home on Harris Creek Road in Onslow County when the child and his sibling were taking the two dogs out to use the bathroom.
Deputies found that the 8-year-old boy had bite marks on his neck and despite life-saving measures, he died shortly later in the hospital.
Deputies say according to the family, the two dogs did not show signs of aggressive behaviors before the attack, raising the question of what led up to the deadly attack.
Pitt County K9 Academy Dog Trainer Vincent Rossi says there could be several reasons.
“It could be anything from health issues it could be anything like new triggers, for instance, if they moved locations recently or if there’s something new introduced to the family,” Rossi said.
However, Rossi says none of the reasons are because of their breed, as they were both a Pit Bull and Great Dane mix.
“In my opinion, it can happen with any breed all the way from a Shitsu to a Great Dane,” Rossi said. “So I don’t know how much the breed, in my opinion, plays a factor in it.”
Zoey Johnson owns a bigger dog herself and says she takes steps to make sure her dog does not bite.
“It’s a lot of treats, a lot of praise, a lot of hands-on work honestly,” Johnson said.
Experts say there are other steps parents with small children and bigger dogs can take to make sure both pets and people are safe.
“Make sure there’s an adult that’s there that’s able to monitor stations between children, and especially smaller children and larger dogs,” Parker said.
Some more advice from experts: Start the dogs with socialization and obedience training from six months and up. Also, experts say it’s important to treat your furry friends with respect and kindness.
If your child gets bit, experts say the first step is to reach out to your local animal control officer and humane society for a quarantine.
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