FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – A 7-year-old boy is recovering in a hospital after being attacked by a dog in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood that has since been euthanized, animal control officials said.<\/p>\n
According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, the boy suffered a minor leg injury after he was bitten by a dog near 1812 Northwest 15th Court, at around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Vonda Kates, a good Samaritan who helped the boy, said he was playing with other children when the attack happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were playing as usual, then all of a sudden, \u2018Ow,\u2019 he just went to howling, and I said,\u2019 Oh, mercy, mercy, mercy\u2019,\u201d said Kates.<\/p>\n
After being bitten, the little boy ran to Kates\u2019 home for help.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just ran in the house and got the peroxide and gauze, just to clean it up, just to try to make him feel better,\u201d said Kates.<\/p>\n
Another neighbor called paramedics, who arrived a short time later.<\/p>\n
Officials said the young boy suffered minor injuries but was transported to Broward Health Medical Center as a precaution.<\/p>\n
The boy\u2019s close call made Kates emotional on what could\u2019ve happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me it was devastating, because these are my children, you know, the children of the neighborhood are like my children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Kates said she wishes people in her neighborhood would do a better job keeping their dogs under control.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to put them on leash, they need to just stop all of this. Come on, don\u2019t just let the dogs roam the neighborhood like this,\u201d said Kates. \u201cIt\u2019s a danger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the boy and others in the area are fortunate to have a watchful, caring eye looking after them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s just me \u2014 kindhearted, tend to them. You know, I just have a thing for little children,\u201d said Kates. \u201cIt\u2019s in me. Lord knows the kindness is in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wednesday morning, Broward County Animal Care confirmed the dog\u2019s owner voluntarily surrendered their pet on Tuesday evening, and the animal has since been put down in accordance with county protocol.<\/p>\n
The young boy is expected to be OK.<\/p>\n
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