6-year-old attacked by dog ​​in Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A 6-year-old girl is recovering at home from a dog attack in Fort Collins. The attack occurred last week in a neighborhood near Troutman Park and Lopez Elementary School.

Animal bite cases are not uncommon this time of year. NOCO Humane said they see 25 percent more cases in the summer than in the winter, averaging about a hundred cases per month year-round, with many of the victims being children. They said what makes this case unique is that animal control is still searching for the dog and a possible owner.

“These are the two lower ones and these are the two upper ones,” said six-year-old Lucy Reyling, pointing to the bite mark on her arm.

On July 1, Lucy told animal control that she was on her way to a neighbor’s house when she spotted a strange dog across the street.

“It was a big brown dog with floppy ears,” Lucy said. “It was just lying on the sidewalk in front of a house. It saw me, ran towards me, jumped up and bit me on the arm.”

The six-year-old shielded her face from the dog’s teeth with her arm. NOCO Humane staff told 9NEWS that Lucy did everything right in the situation: she avoided the dog, didn’t look it in the eyes and stayed calm. Despite this, the dog attacked the young girl.

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NOCO Humane Animal Control Officers continue to patrol the area where the attack occurred, but they have had no luck finding the dog or a possible owner. With the animal still at large, Lucy’s mother, Kasey Reyling, remains on edge.

“Now when we drive around, I’m looking for that stray dog,” Kasey said. “We don’t know anything about that dog. We don’t know if he’s sick. We don’t know anything about that and that’s really scary. Just the safety aspect is the worst. I want (my kids) to be independent and be able to go to friends’ houses and now I’m scared they’re going to get hurt.”

NOCO Humane wants to find the dog for several reasons. First, it’s about public safety. NOCO said there is currently a potentially dangerous dog on the loose and they don’t want anyone else in Fort Collins to get hurt. Second, they want to monitor the animal to make sure it’s not showing any signs of rabies.

Kasey said they took Lucy to the doctor and were told everything would be fine. They prescribed an antibiotic just to be safe.

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NOCO Humane said now is a good time for parents to teach their children to understand dog body language. Here are some tips from NOCO on how to prevent animal bites:

• Avoid handling dogs that show signs of fear, nervousness or aggression.
• If an unknown dog approaches you, stay calm and avoid eye contact. Running away triggers the dog’s hunting instinct. Back away slowly and, if possible, put a barrier between you and the dog.
• It is extremely important for parents to teach their children to ask before petting a dog and to always treat pets gently and with respect.
• It is important to emphasize the responsibility of pet owners to keep their pets in a safe environment or on a leash. Not only is this required by law, but it also prevents dangerous interactions. Pets can react unpredictably to stimuli outdoors, especially in unfamiliar environments. Keeping your pet on a leash reduces the likelihood of an unpredictable reaction turning into a dangerous altercation.

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