A Hallandale Beach 1-year-old is recovering after a violent attack by the family dog Friday afternoon inside the child’s home, a scare that left both the toddler and the child’s mother injured. Police say the mother fought the dog off and pulled the child away, suffering bites herself, before the child was flown to a South Florida children’s hospital. The family later surrendered the dog, and Broward County Animal Care removed the animal from the residence.
What happened
According to Hallandale Beach police, the attack unfolded Friday in the 400 block of Southeast 9th Street while the child’s mother was changing the toddler, as reported by NBC 6 South Florida. A good Samaritan drove the injured child and mother to Aventura Hospital, where doctors stabilized the child. The toddler was then airlifted to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital for more specialized care, NBC 6 reported.
Dog taken into custody and euthanized
A relative managed to secure the dog after the attack, and Broward County Animal Care responded to take the animal into custody. A county spokesperson told Local 10 that the dog was humanely euthanized at the owner’s request. Local 10 identified the animal as a 6-year-old American bulldog, and neighbors told reporters they were shocked that a pet they knew as calm could suddenly turn on a child.
CBS Miami reported the child’s age as 14 months and noted that Hallandale Beach police were still working to piece together exactly what led up to the attack. The child’s father told the station the dog had never shown aggression before and said the family’s attention is now fixed on the toddler’s recovery.
How families can reduce risk
Health officials say very young children face a higher risk of serious injury from dog bites and urge parents to closely supervise any interaction between toddlers and pets. Experts recommend never leaving small children alone with dogs, watching them even during seemingly calm play, and steering clear of dogs while they are eating or sleeping. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advises washing wounds right away and contacting local animal control after a bite, guidance outlined on the CDC dog-safety page.
Hallandale Beach Police and Broward County Animal Care say the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hallandale Beach Police Department’s Public Information Office, and residents can visit Broward County Animal Care’s shelter page for details on how to report bites and potentially dangerous animals.
