Dad stabs pet pit bull attacking baby girl
FALMOUTH — A dad desperate to save his baby girl is being hailed as a hero for fatally stabbing the family’s pit bull mix yesterday as it mauled his daughter’s face.
“We recognize the heroic efforts by the dad to do the best he could to minimize the injuries to his child,” said Susan Moran, chairwoman of Falmouth’s Board of Selectmen.
Town police said the incident occurred shortly before 9 a.m. at a home on Brick Kiln Road.
Cops said in a statement the 1-year-old girl “was playing in the kitchen with the father nearby. The family pit-bull terrier attacked the child and bit her in the face causing major trauma. The father immediately attempted to separate the dog from the child, but was unable. He retrieved a pistol from an adjacent room, but when he realized that it was not loaded he grabbed a knife and began stabbing the animal in order to protect the child. The dog was fatally wounded.”
Falmouth Fire Department personnel treated the child at the home, police said. The tot was transported to Falmouth Hospital and then airlifted to a hospital in Boston for treatment.
Fox 25, citing family members, reported the little girl had three blood transfusions and underwent a 4- to 6-hour surgery last night, with plastic surgeries to follow in coming days and weeks.
Ron Goulart, the girl’s great-uncle, told Fox 25 Boston he was shocked to hear about the attack from a friend who works at a store in town. He said his nephew loved the family dog, which was adopted five years ago and had never shown any aggression toward the baby.
“The dog always got along with her. So, I don’t know what happened there. You got me,” he said.
A police statement said, “The preliminary investigation has revealed no known history of violence or aggression. At this time, the attack appears to have been unprovoked.”
Moran said the Board of Selectmen sends well-wishes to the impacted family during the “tragedy.”
She added that she doesn’t believe pit bulls are more dangerous than other dog breeds.
Town Manager Julian Suso also expressed his sympathies toward the family.
“We’re extremely saddened by this tragic event. We pray for the life of this infant and a full recovery.”
When asked about pit bulls, Suso expressed reservation, but stopped short of saying the town should ban them — an action barred by state law several years ago.
“I have observed that pit bulls in general appear to be involved in attacks on human beings more than other breeds.”