Tragedy struck a family in southwest Miami-Dade on Wednesday when a 3-year-old boy and his grandmother were severely injured in an attack by the family's German Shepherd. According to Local 10 News, the incident occurred near the 24000 block of Southwest 182nd Street, prompting a large police and emergency response to the scene.
In the aftermath of the attack, with the dog still looming over, the victims were rushed to a local hospital for treatment. "Reports indicate that a 3-year-old (boy) and his grandmother were attacked by the family’s 2-year-old German Shepherd," Miami-Dade Animal Services shared. The extent of the injuries requires intensive care, which as of now, remains undisclosed by the authorities.
Emergency services were quick to act, and the Sky 10 helicopter captured the urgency of first responders at the home where the attack took place. NBC Miami reported the unprovoked aggression led to Miami-Dade Animal Services deciding on a somber course of action for the canine responsible. "Due to the nature of the attack and the severity of the injuries, the dog will be humanely euthanized," they stated.
Miami-Dade Animal Services highlighted an often-dismissed truth—pets, despite being family members, are animals first and must be treated with caution, especially around young children. "We always have to be careful when we have smaller children around our family pets," Flora Beal, a spokesperson for Miami-Dade Animal Services, told Local 10 News. "Just be overly cautious when you have pets in the house and (if) you have smaller children."
No further information has been made available regarding the current condition of the boy and his grandmother or the circumstances that led to the dog's unexpected aggression.
