A 4 year old boy is in the hospital tonight after he was mauled by a dog in his own back yard. It happened in the Lake I area shortly after 2 yesterday afternoon. Ellis Ortiz was in the yard at his parent's apartment, when the landlord's dog attacked him.
Fortunately, neighbors were able to wrest the child away in time and rush him to the hospital. He is now in a stable condition but parents are worried that the dog may have done permanent damage to the child's eye. Here's that story:...
4 year old Ellis Ortiz is currently undergoing treatment at KHMH for injuries he sustained during a vicious canine attack.
The culprit is the landlord's watchdog, a very protective potlicker mix. Baby Ortiz and his parents rent a room at an apartment complex in Lake I.
On Sunday afternoon baby Ortiz was allegedly sitting on the front steps of his home, a shy distance away from the dog house, when he was attacked.
Florence Horne - Grandmother of mauled victim
"The man is claiming that it was a big breed dog like a pit bull that doesn't like children. My daughter say the man told her that the dog doesn't like children, so her son doesn't go around the dog. But he was sitting down at the door waiting for his food when the dog attack him. We approached the man to ask him how he could have left this to happen to mu baby. Why did you have a biting dog in the yard? The man says that the dog is not his. I told him if the dog is not for him then why does he have a dog in his yard while renting apartments. He says sorry miss. I told him that sorry doesn't ease anything. Watch my grandbaby face. We don't know if his eyes - will he see from out of one eye. His face is torn up. All his jaw - you could see the skin hanging. It's not right."
Reporter
"Has he taken responsibility and assist the family in any way with medical bills?"
Florence Horne
"No. he doesn't assist in anything and we will need help. Because we don't know if the little boy will see out of one of his eye."
And although the family is aggrieved, police say their hands are tied, as the dog owners were not at fault.
ASP Alejandro Cowo- OC, CIB
"The situation is that it is very difficult at this moment to levy any charges on the landlord or the proprietor of the establishment. As I mentioned the dog was tied up and it was the minor that was playing outside of the yard and he went to where the dog was."
The landlords on the other hand are remorseful and wish the situation could have been averted. But the damage having been done, they now only wish to help in any way they can.
Waltrid Sutherland- Landlord
"I don't really know, but my common-law husband says that he was inside of his room and the boy and the baby was outside and he say he only heard the dog. And he rushed out there and saw the dog have the baby by the septic tank. He says that he rushed out there and he took away the baby. But the dog cannot reach far as the door. So I don't know how the dog got to the baby. I didn't think that the dog would harm anyone. I just want to tell them that we agree to help with the medical bills or whatever we could help with and we are sorry about that."
A decision has been made by the landlords to send the dog away to avoid future mishaps.
In the meantime 4 year old Ortiz is recovering at the hospital and his family fears he may not see again from his left eye.
Anyone wishing assist the family in any way can reach them at 629-4409 or make a financial contribution at Atlantic bank account number 211 751 898. We'll keep updating you on his condition,
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