Colorado Springs family who surrendered dog accused of biting 5-year-old speaks out

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Two weeks after a Saint Bernard was taken the Humane Society for biting a five year old, the family who adopted him is speaking out.

On December 23rd, Vanessa Edgerton received a call saying her son was on his way to the hospital after their newly adopted dog, Duke attacked him.

"I was scared. I thought I lost my son or I thought I was losing my son," Edgerton said.

Her was son taken the Colorado Springs Children's Hospital, and that's where Edgerton saw his face for the first time after the attack.

"When the doctors came and took the bandages off, the wounds were open and just blood coming down his face," Edgerton said.

Within hours, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) took custody of the dog.

Per Colorado law, they investigated every bite and tested the dog for rabies.

In a statement sent to KRDO, HSPPR said, "the owner of the dog requested the dog be euthanized due to the severity of the attack."

Edgerton said, "I was being cited for having an aggressive dog. I didn't want the dog here so whatever comes with um, I guess whatever was in the boxes that I checked and I didn't see and just signed... it was a surrender."

KRDO asked what she would like to see happen to the dog now.

"I want the right thing done, honestly. What is the right thing? What's the legal thing that should be done? Honestly, I don't know. I've never been in this position."

Adriana's Saints and Angels Rescue, the facility that adopted the dog out, is fighting to get the dog back.

On Friday, the director Shannon Snyosky said, "We want to save his life. We want to take him out of Colorado and back to Oklahoma."

The rescue is claiming rightful ownership because their contracts require their dogs go back to them if the owners surrender them.

Both parties will appear in court on February 3 to decide who gets Duke back and what happens next.