'Best friend' bites tot

Although, I personally, do not agree with the manner that was taken after the dog bit the child, they chose to euthanize him. Although, the cause of the bite was not aggressive, as the dog wanted food, the future of the dog could have been different versus euthansia. I believe that the dog could have found a home with another family.


Wed, December 12, 2007
By JENNIFER O'BRIEN, SUN MEDIA

MOM MEDICINE: Melissa Price kisses her 22-month-old daughter, Ava, the day after child was bitten by Mugsy, her family's pit bull. (DEREK RUTTAN Sun Media)

A London toddler is recovering after the family pit bull terrier ripped into her cheek, leaving her with about 25 stitches.

Ava Price, 22 months old, spent several hours in hospital, 45 minutes getting stitches and will likely need reconstructive surgery by age 10.

The pit bull, Ava's "best friend," is to be put down.

The attack occurred Monday when the girl was left alone in a toy room with the dog, as she had been "100 times before," only this time the dog had a bone, said Melissa Price, Ava's mother.

"We had this dog for eight months and we all loved and cherished this dog and at no point did we think that she was aggressive or going to be aggressive," said Price, who has three other kids at home.

"But now, I truly don't think a pit bull should be a family pet," she said.

London police investigated, and no charges were laid.

Price said a visit from Children's Aid yesterday went "fine."

She agreed to talk to reporters about the case, hoping to provide a warning to other families with pit bulls.

Ontario banned the squat, muscular dogs in 2005, the first North American jurisdiction to do so, after a series of highly publicized attacks on humans and other dogs.

Pit bulls already in Ontario before the ban took effect were spared, but subjected to tough restrictions under the law, such as mandatory muzzles when the dogs are in public.

"I love that dog to pieces -- I still wish she was here with us -- and I still do not support the ban on pit bulls," Price said.

"But I do not think a pit bull is a good family pet, especially if you have small children."

Ava Price, 22 months old, received 25 stitches on her face; the pit bull will be put down.

Despite a painful looking gash yesterday, Ava happily sipped back juice and climbed around her mom's legs.

"They were best friends," said Price of Ava and Mugsy. "She would hop on (the dog's) back and ride her like a horse, and they would chase each other all around the house.

"She's going to miss her."

As her mom spoke, Ava puttered around the living room coffee table, eating and dropping some hot dog pieces.

"She's dropping hot dogs on the floor for the dog," said Jenny, a community support worker that visits the family through the city's Hostel to Homes program.

Like other relatives and friends in the busy home yesterday, Jenny -- who declined to give her last name -- praised Mugsy as a good- natured dog loved by Ava and Price's other children.

Ava's siblings said they were devastated to learn Mugsy would be destroyed.

"I'm sad," said Nicholas, 9.

Added seven-year-old Mariah: "I want (Mugsy) to come back, but we can't have a doggy."

On Monday, Mugsy had a bone in the toy room, said Price, who thinks Ava must have tried to take the bone.

She imagines Mugsy bit Ava in an attempt to get the bone, but instead tore into her right cheek, which was left hanging.

Price was in the kitchen, about two metres away, and said she didn't hear anything.

But a cousin who was visiting heard a whimper, went into the hall and found Ava sitting on the floor and holding her cheek.

Mugsy was in the corner, "looking frightened," said Price.

"I truly, honestly believe the baby was playing with the dog . . . Judging by the bloody trail marks, it looks like the baby was trying to take her bone and (the dog) bit her face," said Price.

"I always had an understanding there was a chance of a pit bull being dangerous, but I gave this dog a chance."

Mugsy has been quarantined with Animal Care & Control, said Jay Stanford, London's manager of environmental services.

"The owners have signed over to have the dog be destroyed, so they have taken responsibility, " said Stanford.

The family could be charged under a city bylaw since the dog wasn't licensed, he said.

THE LAW ON PIT BULLS
- Ontario banned the powerful, broad-shouldered dogs in March 2005 and slapped restrictions on existing ones.
- In London, the dogs make up about four per cent of the city's 25,000 licensed dogs, but chew up a quarter of the time spent on animal control, a city report says.