PLANT CITY, Fla. – A Florida toddler is recovering after he was attacked by his family’s dog on Tuesday morning.
Fortunately, authorities say a sheriff’s detective was in the right place at the right time to save the child.
Investigators told WFLA that a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detective was interviewing a business owner about a car theft when he noticed a dog with something in its mouth.
Teresa Budd, the business owner, says she saw the dog dragging what she thought was a towel.
Detective Jeffrey Harris and Budd walked toward the property and realized the 50 pound Boxer had a child in its mouth.
“The dog had just turned at a different angle and I could see what he was dragging around it just hit me, ‘Oh my God, it’s a child,” she said.
Witnesses say Harris ran toward the dog and started yelling at it, which made it drop the child and run away, according to WFTS.
“Deputy Harris told me to go get the mom and he would keep the dog off the child while I ran to the door to try and get the mom,” Budd said. “I pointed to the yard and she said, ‘Oh my God, yes, bambino.’ And she ran out to the child; she was horrified like any mother would be to see their child in that condition.”
Neighbors say the family’s dog is known for being slightly aggressive, but they never thought she would attack a child.
Authorities say the 2-year-old boy was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
