A dog from Azle, Texas has been euthanized, and its owner has been arrested after her pet brutally attacked 7-year-old Conner Landers near his home on January 21.
Per a CBS 11 News report, police said that the dog that attacked Landers was humanely euthanized last week after it was routinely quarantined. The Department of Health declared the dog free of rabies after testing.
The dog’s owner was identified as a neighbor, 49-year-old Patti Jean Bell-Neveling. Per CBS 11 News, she was arrested on February 7 after a warrant was issued for “attack by a dog resulting in serious bodily injury,” a third-degree felony.
Landers had just gotten off his school bus at Lynock Lane when the dog attacked him, dragging him down the street and biting his face, head and arms.
Another neighbor, Lorena Parker, heard the attack and chased the dog away with a large stick. However, the dog went toward her, forcing her to retreat to her yard.
Police said the dog, a brown and black brindle boxer/bullmastiff mixed-breed, had escaped its fenced yard. Its reasons for attacking Landers are unknown.
Landers was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.
His mother, Cassandra Ware, who described the attack as a “mauling,” said it left him with numerous lacerations to his face and arms. She also said he suffered puncture wounds to his scalp and neck as well as multiple bruises on his chest and legs.
“He underwent more than three hours of surgery to repair nerve damage to his face and to close more than two dozen lacerations to his face, head and body,” Ware said. “The doctors anticipate he will need several more surgeries to repair additional nerve damage to his face and to repair his tear duct.”
According to Ware, the 7-year-old will have to undergo physical therapy to regain the use of his arm and be able to write again.
To help Landers on his road to recovery, Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Supervisor Karen Kessler initiated a fundraising effort. From the funds raised, the woman who saved Landers, Lorena Parker, has been awarded $500, CBS 11 News reports.
Anyone who wishes to contribute towards his recovery can contact PlainsCapital Bank at 1001 Santa Fe Drive in Weatherford and donate to the Conner Landers’ Benefit Account. The bank can be reached at 817-598-5400.