Posted on: Wednesday, July 24, 2002

Maui 2-year-old mauled by babysitter's pit bull

Advertiser Staff

PUKALANI, Maui — A 2-year-old boy was in critical condition yesterday at Maui Memorial Medical Center after he was mauled by his babysitter's pit bill.

The child was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center with deep bite wounds to his face, scalp and neck, said Aimee Anderson, animal control supervisor at the Maui Humane Society. A plastic surgeon was being consulted to repair the wounds, she said.

The owner of the 6-year-old male pit bull was distraught over the attack and surrendered the animal for immediate euthanasia, Anderson said. The dog did not have a history of viciousness and was secured by a chain when the attack occurred about 8:30 a.m., she said.

The boy apparently followed a puppy down to where the pit bull was kept and may have been caught in the middle of a fray between the two animals, although no one saw what happened.

"The lesson is never leave children unattended with dogs," Anderson said. "You're asking for trouble. It happens all the time."