American pit bull terrier attacks child in Helsinki after escaping from owner’s apartment
A five-year-old American pit bull terrier attacked a child in Vallila, Helsinki, on Monday. The dog had escaped from its owner’s apartment due to a faulty front door. The owner told reporters that the dog had previously escaped into the stairwell, but neighbours had returned it. However, after the dog kept escaping, the police were called.
“I take full responsibility for what happened, and I am truly sorry to the child’s parents. I am also worried that the child might be traumatised,” the dog’s owner said. According to the owner, the dog had previously played with children without any issues.
On Monday, the American pit bull terrier bit a child’s leg in Vallila. The child, who is under ten years old, was taken to the hospital for treatment. Following the incident, the dog was seized by the police but was later returned to the owner.
Katariina Rinne, the investigating officer from Helsinki Police, said that the court will decide if the animal is dangerous and if it should be put down. “In this case, we decided to return the dog to its owner, as this was the only known attack on a human. Also, the home conditions were such that there was no animal welfare reason to remove it,” Rinne said.
The dog’s owner is currently suspected of causing bodily harm and leaving an animal unattended.