Child Services called following dog attack
As a 3-year-old girl recovers in a hospital from surgery after being mauled last week by pit bulls, a family member is speaking out about dangerous conditions in the home.
The relative, who requested anonymity, said the family had lingering concerns about the “family living situation” and called Schenectady County Child Protective Services to report the situation.
The toddler lives with her father and two of his siblings, a grandmother, four dogs and several cats in a tiny ranch-style home on Clayton Road in the Woodlawn neighborhood.
Pierce’s mother is homeless, according to the fam
ily member.
Robert Pierce, her father, is wanted in Colonie for failing to show up to a court date related to his arrest in January on multiple felonies for beating up and threatening to kill the child’s mother by holding her under water in the bathtub at a local motel, according to Colonie police spokesman Lt. Robert Winn.
Police say two pit bulls belonging to Robert Pierce’s brother, Salvatore Dinovo, attacked the girl Friday night during a cookout at the family’s Schenectady home.
The girl suffered serious injuries to her leg, face and back and Tuesday remained at Albany Medical Center Hospital.
The relative said doctors told family members the girl will need more surgeries and skin graft procedures.
Standing outside their Clayton Road home, Dinovo, 28, and his mother, Lynn Decenzo, said Tuesday that the family is blowing the incident out of proportion and that the dogs — Styles and Damon — and are not vicious.
The pair recounted that Dinovo was in the backyard by the grill when Decenzo came outside to bring him hot dogs.
The animals were outside running around when one of them playfully licked the child and knocked her over, causing her to cry.
A frantic Decenzo scooped up the toddler while screaming and kicking at the canines. The dogs then attacked the child.
In hindsight, Decenzo said she feels bad for the way she reacted and feels that she caused the dogs to attack the child.
The girl is doing well, she said. She was out of bed, playing, in good spirits and “might be coming home soon,” she reported.
“It was an awful tragedy and we are all sorry and praying for the baby,” said Decenzo.
Decenzo also defended Child Protective Services.
“There was no dropping of the ball and the baby was always safe here,” added the paternal grandmother, noting that she has two other dogs, a cocker spaniel and English bulldog Boston terrier mix.
Styles the dog is 7 years old, Dinovo said, adding that he has had the dog since he was a puppy. The pit bull Damon is 2 years old.
“I never raised them to be angry at anybody,” he said. Dinovo said the canines have never bitten anyone before this incident.
Dinovo is facing several misdemeanors under the city’s dog ordinance.
A hearing will be held Monday in Schenectady City Court to determine if Styles and Damon are dangerous dogs under the state’s Agriculture and Markets Law, according to City Attorney Carl Falotico. If it is determined the dogs are dangerous, they could be put down.
Falotico must review the child’s medical records to determine the severity of injuries to her legs, face and back before making a recommendation to the presiding judge.
Potential penalties also include muzzling; purchasing a liability insurance policy of up to $100,000; neutering; and implanting the dogs with a microchip.
“There’s a lot of options and lot of it is at the judge’s discretion but the first step is we put forward a case about whether or not the dogs meet the legal definition of dangerous,” said Falotico.
Decenzo said Pierce has remained at the hospital around the clock with his daughter.
Days after his January arrest for the alleged Colonie assault, Pierce was released pending a future court date and one of the CPS supervisors said “he was OK to take the baby,” the anonymous family member said.
Pierce also faces charges for damaging a video and audio system at the police station, Winn said. He said the criminal case is being handled by the Albany County district attorney’s office.
A relative and her husband, who live out of state, are petitioning Schenectady County Family Court to gain custody of the child, the family member said.
The anonymous family member complained that visits by the case worker to the Clayton Road home where the child stayed with her father and his family were always scheduled.
County Attorney Chris Gardner said Tuesday that state law prohibits him from discussing this or any case.
Speaking in general terms, Gardner said cases like the child’s often don’t present “a lot of good alternatives” and getting foster parents is challenging.
“Our child protective workers are confronted on a daily basis with difficult choices and no ideal situation and they do outstanding work under difficult and trying circumstances,” he added.