Dog Bite Victim Recovering
www.newarkadvocate.com
April 25, 2006, NEWARK, OHIO -- A 5-year-old girl needed more than 300 stitches to begin the healing process on her wounded face after a family dog attacked her Saturday.
“(It) literally had ripped her teeth out,” said Becki Stalling, whose son is engaged to Kylee Kindred’s mother. “They were able to find the teeth and put them back in. It even ripped her tear duct out.”
The dog, a 2-year-old boxer owned by Kindred’s aunt, Dawn Ridenbaugh, was euthanized Monday morning. The dog had been chained in the back yard.
Kindred was treated on Saturday and released Sunday, but will need many more medical visits.
Stalling said Kindred will be undergoing many surgeries, and is not allowed outside in the sun for six months.
“Tomorrow she sees an eye surgeon, and Friday she goes to the doctors in Columbus to see about starting surgery for her face,” Stalling said.
Stalling added that she would like to recognize Kylee’s brother, Kyle, who pulled his sister away from the dog during the attack.
The dog was picked up by animal control, right at the time of the attack, which happened around 11:41 a.m. Saturday at 29 E. Holliday St.
“This morning we euthanized the dog, and the dog will be tested for rabies,” said John Luzio, Licking County Animal Control Director, on
Monday.
Luzio said there have been some prior animal incidents at the household where the dog lived, but did not know any specifics on Monday.
“The mother said this dog has a history of nipping people,” Luzio said. “We see a lot of tragedies. Hopefully this girl will be OK. It’s dangerous to have dogs like this around children. Because of (a child’s) stature, a lot of bites are to the neck and face.”
