WESTOVER — A Monongalia County middle school student was attacked by a dog Wednesday morning as he waited for a school bus.
The dog was captured and put down.
Westover Police Chief Rick Panico said the male pitbull-mix escaped from its owner’s house and followed its owner’s children to their bus stop, on Riverview Avenue, at about 8:30 a.m.
It’s not clear if the dog was being tormented or if he just got angry, but Panico said it “latched on” to on boy and left a gash in the his leg.
The 10- or 11-year-old was taken to the hospital and received stitches, Panico said. He said the injuries were not life-threatening.
He said the first officer on the scene used pepper spray to try to control the dog, but the dog became “rambunctious” and also grabbed the officer’s pants and tore them.
When another officer arrived on scene the officers whistled, attracting the dog’s attention while waiting for the dog warden, who captured it.
Pancio said the dog was not licensed and there was no proof of shots, so the owner signed the dog over and it was put down, because it attacked and injured the boy.
Officers were told the dog may have been involved in a fight with a raccoon or squirrel, and so the dog was sent to Charleston to be tested for rabies.
The owner was cited for allowing the dog to be loose without a leash and will pay a fine decided by a judge.
