A 23-month-old Plant City boy was hospitalized Tuesday morning after being bitten by the family dog, a 50 lb. boxer.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the attack happened at 8 a.m. near the 3700 block of east Trapnell Road. The boy was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital where he is listed in serious condition.
“I noticed the dog in the back yard here and it was attacking, what I thought was maybe a garbage bag,” said Teresa Budd, a witness. “I said the dog is attacking something and it just doesn’t look right to me. And at that moment, the dog got into the angle where I could see what it was and I just screamed, ‘oh my God’. And dropped my purse and ran."
Budd said she was talking to a Hillsborough sheriff's deputy at the time and they both helped save the boy, Michael Diaz, from the dog.
“I dread what might’ve happened had we not seen the child when we did because it was so close to a main artery and a leg, it would’ve bled out quickly,” she said.
Detectives say the boy's mom was inside the house at the time and didn't know about the attack until the witness knocked on her door.
Deputies say the boxer belongs to the victim's family and they surrendered it along with four puppies to animal services. Neighbors say the dog is known for being aggressive.
“The dog was just over here the night before last trying to chase my grand baby,” said Carolyn Jones, neighbor.
The neighbor says the boxer also recently chased the victim's older brother to her home.
Bay News 9 could not reach the Diaz family for comment.