More than 150,000 sign petition to save two huskies who bit off boy's arm
The petition says the dog thought the child's arm was a toy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.More than 150,000 people signed an online petition to save the lives of two husky dogs bit a four-year-old boy in Utah causing doctors to amputate his arm.
The incident took place on Sunday when the boy was playing in the backyard of his family home in Layton and reached through the fence and into the neighbours' backyard where the two dogs—Polar and Bear—were, law enforcement said.
Jason Cook, the Battalion chief at Layton Fire Department, told NBC News that the child wore a sock on his arm when one of the dogs bit him so hard it ripped off a part of his limb.
The boy, while in stable condition, was subsequently airlifted to a hospital and underwent surgery to amputate his arm. Mr Cook said he “never been a part of a call like that” throughout his 29-year career in the fire department.
The dogs are currently quarantined in Davis County Animal Control as law enforcement investigates the incident.
Davis County Animal Control Director Rhett Nicks believes it is likely for the dogs to be euthanised based on the severity of the boy’s injury.
“We are doing a dangerous dog investigation, which could range from nothing being done up to euthanasia,” Mr Nicks told an NBC affiliate.
Animal lovers are fighting back. Jessica Nusz, a best friend of Polar and Bear’s owner, created a Care2 petition to spare the dogs’ life who were involved in an “unfortunate accident.”
She said the dog thought it was playing with a toy, “bit down too hard and didn’t see that there was a child on the other side of the fence.”
“This situation is unfortunate on both sides,” the petition reads. “And now both dogs are in quarantine at Davis county animal control. There are fears that Bear might be put down and he doesn’t deserve to be put down for this freak accident.”
More than 160,000 people signed the petition as of Thursday morning.
It is uncertain when Davis County Animal Control will decide the fate of the huskies.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments