VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A 3-year-old boy in Volusia County was bitten in the face by a dog, and he has been attacked before by that same dog. WFTV discovered the dog has a long history of attacks, but animal control never took it away.
On the front of the house there is a warning sign about the dog inside. A dog that attacked neighborhood animals, attacked a 3-year-old child, but was still allowed to stay.
The adult pit bull mix was shy and withdrawn Thursday, not resembling the dog that's attacked people and other animals around its Ormond Beach area home.
"There's been several attacks over there. Because I can hear her screaming at the dogs and you can tell when a dogs attacking," resident Ken Jenkins said.
Kim Jenkins' dog was attacked on her front porch 18 months ago. She testified in court against the owners.
This neighbor believes it was the same dog that killed dozens of his rabbits.
"Forget my rabbits, forget the dog across the street, you got a six-inch scar on the child's face? That'd be it for the dog if it were my child," Jenkins said.
It was owner Cynthia Hannah's grandchild who was the victim of the latest attack, in the living room of her home.
Deputies discovered the boy had a scar on his face from an attack one year ago. Despite all the history, the county didn't remove the dog.
"I want them to get the dogs, because they're biting kids," a neighbor said.
Animal control said it could only "pre-deem" the dog as dangerous. State law required two documented attacks for the dangerous dog label.
Investigators couldn't prove the child didn't provoke the dog into biting him.
The family decided it didn't want to pursue any action either, and so animal control said its hands were tied.
WFTV
