This was the 3rd time the dog attacked and bit someone in the last 10 months, although by far the most serious. Several complaints have been made to the owner and animal control, but up to this point nothing has changed. Ask anyone that lives nearby, they are all scared of this dog due to his aggressive behavior. The boy has to have multiple surgeries and almost lost his leg! Yes, it was technically within the electric fence area, but the area includes all sides of their home and extends in the front of their yard and the driveway which is connected to the road. It is impossible to know when you are in the "danger zone". What's to stop a toddler or young kid from crossing the line and getting mauled? There are several young children known to play in the area. The owners only seemed concerned about their dog, not at all about people. People should not have to live in fear all of the time of an aggressive dog attacking them or their children.

one more thing.. the boy did not run home, he was just outside the electric fence area when a concerned neighbor carried him inside their home and called 911. He was bleeding so much, I'm not sure he would have made it down the street to his home.

Obviously, this dog is aggressive. After biting three different people, what neighbor will be next? I don't understand why the dog owner would want the liability?

We have a right to our "private property", but if you have a dog that you leave out unattended, you have a responsibility to protect the public. This is a nice neighborhood and people trust each other. We have people that cut through the properties all the time for convenience.

I appreciate the SP Patch article and it bringing awareness to this dog attack, but it is so "sanitized" it leads you to believe that this boy was just "nipped" by a dog.. Not so! As mentioned above, the injury to his leg was so severe it required surgery, AND will require a 2nd surgery! Also, the boy did not "run" let alone walk home.. As to the trespasing, it's a little boy, and children don't always read every sign posted. So, given that this dog is obviously VERY aggressive, maybe the owners should invest in a "real" fence, which would not only keep the dog confined but keep unsuspecting children from wondering onto their property and getting mauled!

Please let's not make this a pit bull controversy issue. I frankly don't care if it was a poodle. The dog has a history of attacks and the owner doesn't practice the necessary caution to own this animal. There is a little boy in the hospital who went out to play and is now undergoing multiple surgeries.

the dog owner thinks everyone should just stay off the edges of the property, including small children.

"The "danger zone" you've described appears to consist of the homeowner's private property.
If anyone who lives nearby is scared of this dog, why was the child trespassing on the homeowner's property?"

the child was on the edge of the driveway that connects to the culd-de-sac. He lives in the neighboorhood, but on a different street and was unaware of the danger. The same thing could have happened to a delivery person or anyone who went to knock on the front door. There is a small beware of dog sign at the front door that is hard to see, and no sign or marker where you step inside the electronic fence area. The dog was not visible until it came around the side of the house and started attacking him. He had no chance to get away without being bitten several times.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Yes, it was written from a police report. I've since been contacted by a neighbor of the dog owners and will be following-up with an eyewitness account.

Three attacks by this dog in one year? And 'Animal Control will be working to determine what, if any, restrictions may be needed to prevent future incidents, keeping public safety in mind.'
There does not appear to be any question about the fact that this dog is vicious. At what point does this beast need to be taken away ? Until strong action is taken against dogs like this, and their owners, we will continue to see reports like this. I am tired of hearing 'Oh, but she is so sweet, she'd never hurt a thing'. These dog owners should be held financially accountable for every penny of medical bills incurred when their dog attacks someone.

Paul, I agree that 3 UNPROVOKED attacks by any dog is 3 too many. The problem I have with this specific case is that if the child was trespassing, and the dog did not break through the electric fence, I'm not sure (legally) how much animal control or the authorities can really do. For many dogs, regardless of "breed", unauthorized entrance of their territory is enough to provoke them. I'm also really baffled by the fact that this dog had supposedly bitten or attacked someone entering it's territory before, and the whole neighborhood didn't know better than to stay far away from that yard.

As I said, my neighborhood has an extremely aggressive and unbalanced Lab, and every kid around knows to stay the heck away from that property. I'm very sympathetic to this child's trauma, but I can't help but think this also a huge parental failing. A nine y/o should have been taught to stay off of any stranger's property, especially if it is known that there are "vicious" dogs on it. Whether any of us agree with it or not, a property owner does have the right to deny anyone from infringing on his property - even the edges of it, and even from poorly taught children.

Mary ,
While a property owner has the right to deny someone from infringing on property, there is still a matter of liability. A fence works well for this. If I were to lay a string of mines, or a moat full of alligators around my property and someone got hurt. I would be liable. A vicious dog is no different. A nine year old knows nothing about trespass. Additionally, why does the whole neighborhood have to suffer because one person needs to have a vicious animal ? Owners of such animals, and their insurance companies need to be accountable. When that happens, vicious animals will disappear. In this case, there is no excuse - that animal should not have been allowed to endanger other people. There are plenty of valid reasons for entering a property. Deliveries, meter access, etc. I will admit that I don't know the area, or if the property is marked with huge warning signs about impending injury should someone mistakenly cut a corner. If trespassing is such a concern here, they need to arrive at a better solution.

Poorly taught Children?? Really??? How about the poorly trained dog? Persons living in a community should not have to "walk on egg shells" because Cujo is on the hunt!

Once again, common sense is lacking on the part of the dog owner. There is a problem with this dog that continues to bite people. Money always gets one's attention. I would think that three claims against the dog owner's homeowner's insurance policy would get their attention. Money always talks!

So, I hear that although this animal has biten 3-4 people over the last few years, it will (most likely) be home by tomorrow.. Apparently, the rights of dogs trump the rights of humans... Way to go Anne Arundel County!

Unbelievably STUPID decision by Animal Control!!!