By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A 3-year-old injured Saturday was bitten in the face by one or both of her family’s dogs, according to a Rowan County Animal Control officer.
The family has turned the dogs over to the county and does not want them back, said Eric Williams, the Animal Control officer who investigated the attack.
Williams, who could not confirm the child’s name, said he was called to the home, where the girl’s father indicated he believed the toddler got between the family’s dogs ó an adult Rottweiler and an adult Labrador mix ó who were tied up in the backyard.
“He wasn’t sure how it happened,” Williams said. “He thought the two dogs were fighting and she got in between them. He was not sure if both dogs bit her.”
Both dogs had to be quarantined since officials were not sure which one bit the girl. Williams said the dogs were not current on their rabies shots but would have been quarantined anyway after biting someone.
“They have to be quarantined for 10 days,” he said.
He said the girl’s father signed both dogs over to the shelter, meaning he does not want them back.
The attack occurred just after 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The child’s parents intended to take her to Rowan Regional Medical Center, but stopped at Salisbury Fire Station No. 2 on South Main Street.
Firefighters administered first-aid until Rowan County paramedics arrived. A helicopter flew the girl to Carolinas Medical Center from Rowan Regional Medical Center around 8:30 p.m. She suffered at least three one-inch cuts near her right cheek and holes and tears on the left side of her left eye.
No one else was bitten, Williams said.