Tragedy struck on the West Side of San Antonio, where two children were seriously injured in a pit bull attack at the Lago Vista Apartment complex. According to KSAT, a one-year-old girl and a three-year-old girl were attacked by the dog after it was bathed by their babysitter. The incident occurred in the 4200 block of West Commerce Street around 3 p.m. yesterday, where the dog charged into a bedroom and lashed out at the young children.
The one-year-old received bites above the eye, and the three-year-old was wounded on the lip and upper arm, resulting in both needing immediate medical attention. Animal Care Services (ACS) has taken the pit bull into custody and a dangerous dog investigation is currently underway, as reported by MSN. Meanwhile, the babysitter and the dog's owner received citations for the attack, the lack of a rabies vaccination, and absence of a microchip in the dog, ACS said.
In a statement obtained by MSN, Lisa Norwood of ACS commented on the gravity of the situation, "Animal Care Services is aware of and investigating today’s horrific bite incident inside an apartment unit involving two young children." She highlighted that the responsibility for pet care and guardianship are central to the incident, calling today’s attack "100% preventable."
The legal repercussions have extended to the pit bull's owner and the sitter, who face two criminal citations linked to the severity of the attack, and because the dog did not have its legally required rabies vaccination, and microchip, said ACS according to KSAT. The pit bull will be quarantined and observed as part of the ongoing investigation to determine if it should be classified as dangerous. Furthermore, "This investigation has begun in earnest and the dog is in ACS custody," ACS added in their comment on the event's preventability.
