Owner Charged After Two Children Attacked By Same Dog

A dog owner in Belmont County, Ohio is facing charges after two families complained of their children suffering personal injuries in attacks by the same dog as they were walking on the afternoon of April 3.

According to Sunni McMahon, her 8-year-old son was walking back from Dairy Queen with a friend when he was attacked by the dog at about 2:30 p.m. She said the children went to the owner's house, and the owner quickly pulled the child indoors when he heard him screaming.

However, a 10-year-old girl who was walking with the boy was the next one the dog attacked, the families said. Her mother, Heather Destifanes, said her injuries were worse than the boy's. She required stitches to close wounds on her leg and arm.

Both families say the dog is a major concern to them.

Michael Freeman of the Belmont County Health Department said the current time of year is when reports of dog attacks increase, due to people being outdoors and allowing animals to run loose more often.