The Kaua‘i Police Department has begun an investigation into an incident at a Wainiha home on Aug. 8. in which a pit bull dog attacked a 9-year-old girl and inflicted injuries to her lower body. The girl, who was not
The Kaua‘i Police Department has begun an investigation into an incident at a Wainiha home on Aug. 8. in which a pit bull dog attacked a 9-year-old girl and inflicted injuries to her lower body.
The girl, who was not named in the police report, was taken by ambulance to Wilcox Hospital shortly after the attack for severe lacerations to her buttocks and to a thigh area, and was later released, according to Sgt. Sylvester Olivera, a Kaua‘i Police Department spokesman.
The girl was playing in the yard at the home on Alaeke Street at 5:50 p.m. that day when the dog reportedly ran from a neighbor’s yard and attacked the girl, according to an account of the incident provided to The Garden Island.
“She was visiting the home, and was in the yard when the dog came running out and attacked her,” Olivera said.
How the dog was beaten off is not known.
“I assume the owner was in the house and helped (possibly beating or scaring the dog away) and contacted the ambulance,” Olivera said. “The police confiscated the dog and took it to the (Kaua‘i) Humane Society.”
Dr. Rebecca Rhoades, the executive director of the organization, said “we are holding the dog for the KPD, pending the dangerous dog trial.”
At request of the police, a human officer drove to the home where the dog attack occurred and took the dog to the Humane Society’s facility in Kipu, Rhoades said.
Olivera said the dog’s owner, who was not identified, was cited by police under a provision of a dangerous dog law.
Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net