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Pit Bull That Attacked Seattle Girl Could Go Free
February 21, 2008
WHITE CENTER — Maysia Smith-Moore can barely talk. The White Center girl's mouth is filled with stitches. It's hard for her to look at herself, hard to see the damage done by a family member's pit bull that broke loose from it's chain-up in a shed next door. "They was like 'Maysia got bit, Maysia got bit!' and I was like, 'what?.' So I run over there and I'm thinking it could have been in the neck, it could have been anywhere," says Maysia's mother, Ujena Smith-Moore.
The dog attacked Maysia's face.
Her injuries so severe medics rushed the nine year old to the hospital where surgeons repaired the damage.
Animal control officers took custody of the 3 year old Pit Bull, but maybe not for long.
The dog could go free unless Maysia's family presses charges--not likely since the dog belongs to a cousin. "She can get it back, as long as it doesn't come around here, she can get her dog back." says Maysia's mother.
And that would put the dog back on the streets.
Back in the same conditions animal control officers say could have contributed to its aggressive behavior.
The Seattle City Attorney will now review the case, but animal control officials say without witness cooperation, prosecuting the owner would be tough.
And the way Seattle law is set up--that conviction is the major hurdle in getting the dog labeled dangerous.
A label even Maysia's mother admits this dog deserves. "They can say they're nice and you can pet them and you can do this--no. They're not kid friendly. Put it like that, them dogs is not kid friendly!" says Ujena Smith-Moore.
Seattle Animal Control sees about 300 dog bites each year. 22% of those involve Pit Bulls.
That's the highest percentage of attacks by any single breed.
Copyright © 2008, KCPQ
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