Child attacked, small dog killed by another dog in Verona, police say
A child was attacked, and a puppy was killed during a dog attack in Verona, police said. Verona Police said that the incident happened just after 5 p.m. on Monday in the area of Riverbank Park along Arch Street.
According to police, officers who responded to the area determined that a dog had gotten loose from a nearby home and attacked the child and the small dog.
Liam Swartzwelder and his 7-month-old puppy Simba were out for a walk when he says the neighbor's Doberman got loose and came after them. The attack unfolded in seconds.
"I tried to get our puppy into the playground and close the gate, but he jumped onto my back and pushed me down before I was able to," said Swartzwelder.
Liam was hurt trying to intervene and was taken to UPMC Children's Hospital and treated for minor injuries. The puppy, just adopted a day earlier, didn't survive.
Liam's mother was on the porch of their home, directly across from the park, when the incident unfolded. She said she knew immediately something was wrong.
"It was pure terror hearing my son scream, hearing the dogs go nuts. You knew what was happening right when you heard the screaming," Liam's mother, Leanne Swartzwelder, said.
Police say the dog had a history of aggression, yet it was still in the community. A neighbor told KDKA-TV that her 12-year-old daughter was attacked similarly last year.
No charges were filed after that attack, and the dog was not removed.
An update from police said that after consulting with the Pennsylvania Dog Wardens, criminal charges have been filed against the owner of the dog that got loose from the home.
"We chose to charge the dog's owner with dog-related offenses for not being able to keep his dog contained, per state law," said Chief Thomas Dessell with the Verona Police Department.
The dog is set to be euthanized on Wednesday. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Verona Police Department.
