El Paso Co. Baby Attacked By Pit Bull

An El Paso County spokesperson confirmed Sunday that a 9-month-old girl was airlifted to the hospital after being bitten by a pit bull.

The incident happened Sunday afternoon at a home off Antioch Road near Rush.

Rescuers say the little girl was bit on the left side of her face and will require major reconstructive surgery to repair the damage.

The mother of the victim called KRDO NewsChannel13 over the phone and said the incident was a terrible accident, and that the family believes no one is to blame.

She did not want to be named, but said the pit bull, owned by her father-in-law, was always a sweet and kind animal. She said her daughter was using a baby walker when she rolled over the dog’s injured leg.

At last check, the little girl will need one more surgery and is scheduled to be released from the hospital on Wednesday.

The sheriff’s office said the animal’s owner was issued a summons for unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has euthanized the animal, and it has been sent to Denver for rabies testing. However, Humane Society representatives are quick to indicate that any dog could bite, and that there is no evidence that pit bulls are actually a more violent breed of dogs.

The sheriff’s office says a relative of the injured baby owned the animal.