Toledoan charged as son loses foot in pit bull attack
Child, 4, has spina bifida, can't feel pain in lower limbs
A 4-year-old North Toledo boy lost one of his feet yesterday when it was chewed off by the family's pit bull puppy. The boy's mother was charged with felony child endangering, authorities said.
Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon identified the boy as Jameille Walker, who has spina bifida and cannot feel pain in his lower extremities.
Authorities said the boy was being treated at Toledo Hospital.
Mr. Skeldon said the puppy probably thought it had a "chew toy" and that one of the instincts of a pit bull is to "grab hold and not let go."
The boy's mother, Martina Jennings, 23, of 1209 St. John Ave., was arrested by police and is being held in the Lucas County jail without bond pending arraignment Monday in Toledo Municipal Court.
She is accused of failing to secure the dog,
which chewed off her son's foot up to the ankle, according to court records.
The boy's family declined a request for an interview.
The Lucas County dog warden’s office yesterday afternoon euthanized the puppy. Earlier in the day, the dog warden had said the animal would be quarantined for 10 days before being "humanely destroyed." But he and other officials later decided that immediately euthanizing the dog and performing laboratory tests on its remains would more quickly determine if the animal had rabies. Results are expected next week.
He said Ms. Jennings told a deputy warden that she awoke yesterday and was alerted by another child that her son's foot was red.
She noticed the injury and saw blood on the dog's face and chest, Mr. Skeldon said.
She apparently took the boy to the hospital and later signed a surrender slip for the puppy, which she said is 2 months old.
The dog warden estimated the puppy was about 3 months old and said it was not licensed.
However, he said, a license isn't needed until 3 months of age.
Mr. Skeldon said his office received a call about the matter from Toledo police about 11:45 a.m. and later seized the dog at the family's home.
He said a report by his office indicated the boy had multiple bites on his right foot.
The puppy had a cut on its face, but the dog warden didn't know what it was from.
Mr. Skeldon said his office picked up a record number of pit bulls - 998 - last year.
It also was the first time that pit bulls topped the list of dog bite investigations, he said.
"We are getting more and more bites from pit bulls, which ups the likelihood of getting something serious happening," the dog warden said.
"I'm surprised we haven't had a fatality."
Mr. Skeldon recommended that parents not leave young children with pit bulls.
Dean Sparks, executive director of Lucas County Children Services, said people with young children should not have vicious dogs.
He said his agency is looking into the incident and that two other children in the home, ages 2 and 8, were placed with relatives.
The agency's first contact with the family came within the last two weeks when it made a home visit after someone expressed a concern about possible child abuse or neglect, Mr. Sparks said.
The agency was in the process of doing an assessment when the dog bite occurred.
There were no concerns about the puppy after the recent visit, Mr. Sparks said.
He said his agency doesn't get a call every time a child is bitten by a dog.
toledoblade.com -- Toledoan charged as son loses foot in pit bull attack
