Broken Arrow Toddler Critical After Pit Bull Attack

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, OK -- A baby girl is in critical condition Friday, after the family pet turned on her. It happened in Broken Arrow near 34th and 149th East Avenue.

Folks in the Broken Arrow neighborhood were shocked to see all of the police cars and the animal control truck on their street but say this isn't the first time the dog went on attack.

"A woman came out holding a baby just screaming and screaming and screaming," said neighbor Sarah Hollingsworth, "and a man came out yelling, and they drove off."

"I've never seen a dog. And it's just shocking to hear a dog attacked a baby. I was like what, what's going on?" said Connie Friday, neighbor.                  

Animal welfare officers say a 1-year-old baby girl was attacked by the family's pet pit bull.

As far as we know right now they were going out to feed the dog; the child got in between the dog and the food bowl," said Justin Williams, Animal Welfare "The dog grabbed the child by the head and now he has pretty severe face and head trauma."

The ambulance took the baby to the hospital in critical condition.

Some neighbors say they've never even seen a dog, but the folks who live closest say they knew there was a danger next door.

"That dog is very, very vicious - very violent," said Trish Greenlee, who lives next door to the injured child.

Greenlee says the pit bull attacked two of her dogs.

"It attacked our Rottweiler mix through the fence. Made a big hole, and bit the side of his jaw. It got infected real bad, and we had to put him to sleep over it," Greenlee said.

While not surprised, she is horrified, like other mothers in the neighborhood.

"Not surprised at all," Greenlee said." I'd hoped to God that it would never come to this. And we feel so terrible about. And we're praying for them."

"I've always felt so safe here letting the kids out to play in the front yard, while I was just inside," said neighbor Sarah Hollingsworth, "but now I'm nervous about it."

Animal welfare took the dog away and will monitor it for rabies, but  officers say parents should not have small children around their dogs at feeding time.

The family initially tried to transport their daughter to the hospital but called 911 when the child lost consciousness. They were met by emergency personnel at a gas station at 41st and 129th Streets.