UPDATE: 4-year-old with missing arm in stable condition, dog in custody
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Editor’s note (March 27, 2019): The mother of the boy has disputed the account given to media immediately after the attack. See what she says about what happened here.
UPDATE 6:15 p.m.
Authorities tell KSL the child, a 4-year-old boy, was bitten by a husky. He apparently had a sock on his hand and was trying to play with the two dogs next door through a chain-link fence in his backyard.
One of the dogs bit down and amputated his hand just above his wrist, Layton Fire Battalion Chief Jason Cook says.
Investigators have not found the child’s arm. They think the dog may have eaten it.
The dog’s owners tell KSL the dogs are large but have not bitten anyone in the past. The dogs are now in the custody of animal control officers.
The name of the boy has not been released, but KUTV reports he is in stable condition.
When crews responded around 3:30, the boy was in shock and was not crying.
“The boy’s family helped limit his bleeding before crews arrived, and they joined the child at the hospital,” KSL reports.
We will post more information when it is available.
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LAYTON, Utah – A 4-year-old child was playing in the yard at his home in Layton, Utah Sunday afternoon and is now missing an arm.
KUTV reports the child stuck their arm through a fence and a dog on the other end bit the child in the mid-forearm, ripping the lower part of the arm and hand clean off.
The dog ran away with the arm in its mouth.
LFD EMS & UofU AirMed have transported a pediatric dog bite patient to Primary Children’s Hospital. Patient is stable but will require surgical intervention. @UofUAirMed @LaytonFYI pic.twitter.com/Hf7B76fgi9
— LaytonFire (@Layton_Fire) March 3, 2019
The child was taken to Primary Children’s Hospital by helicopter around 4 p.m. The kid is undergoing surgery and is in stable condition.
Animal control crews are now searching for the dog and the missing arm and hand so it can be reattached to the child.
We’ll post more information when it is available. Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for updates.