Another day, another child mauled by a dog. Near Winnipeg, a seven-year-old girl was killed by dogs. In Phoenix, as a court hearing is being held to decide the pooch's future, thousands are rallying to save the pit bull, which caused extensive injuries to a four-year-old boy in February.
According to an article in CBS news, Kevin's mother was at work, so her son was being watched by a family member. The attack occurred when the boy picked up a dog bone while Mickey was chained up.
"This is not Kevin versus Mickey," said John Schill, the attorney representing the dog. "Having Mickey killed is not going to take away Kevin's pain or injuries. The only thing this is going to do is kill a poor, innocent dog."
Innocent? Rarely is that word associated with pit bulls, a much maligned breed in the media in recent years, though many other breeds attack children. It should be noted that the Winnipeg dogs were Alaskan malamutes.
Schill, who has taken on the pro bono case on behalf of nonprofit The Lexus Project, claims the responsibility should fall on the adult watching Kevin. So far more than $5,600 has been raised to save Mickey from being euthanized.
Support for the dog surged after an employee at Maricopa County Animal Control and Care Center posted on its Facebook page that Mickey was "going night night."
The fact remains that a boy was gravely injured, with a broken eye socket, cheek bone, and lower jaw bone, which will require various reconstructive surgeries.
Another fundraising site has raised about $6,000 toward Kevin's medical costs.
Should dogs that act aggressively automatically be euthanized?
This dog—not a pit bull—attacked a girl, also while unsupervised.
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