Update on child bitten by pit bull Wednesday*

*UPDATE: 4 p.m., 6/6/08: The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services said today that the pit bull was in fact a shepherd mix. Lt.  Susan Botta of the East Valley shelter said LAPD initially reported the dog as a pit bull. LAPD referred all inquiries to the city's animal services department. The dog is under quarantine, Botta said.

A 2-year-old boy was in stable condition today at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles the day after his face was bitten by a pit bull in Pacoima, police said today.

The Times' Tami Abdollah reports:

The toddler was in the backyard of his home in the 13000 block of Louvre Street, playing under his grandmother's supervision, when the family pit bull "for unknown reasons turned around and tackled the child" Wednesday morning, said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Rich Suviate.

"The dog bit him from the bridge of his nose right underneath his eye socket, down the bridge of his nose, through his mouth and the entire cheek area. It was a very, very nasty injury," Suviate said. At the same time, he said the doctor at Childrens Hospital said "there was no nasal cavity or sinus cavity injuries, which I guess is huge."

The attack took place shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday. The boy's grandmother immediately jumped on the dog to pull it off the boy, Suviate said. She sustained "some serious bite injuries" including to the back of her right leg and thigh, and punctures to her hand and forearm, he said.

Police had initially reported that the child was 1 year old.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta

Comments

[Maureen]

This story was updated to reflect the accurate age of the child, but not the breed of dog responsible for the attack. News reports are now stating that it was NOT the family pit bull that attacked the child, but a german shephard mix owned by the grandmother.