Child and adult seriously injured in Bridgewater family dog attack

BRIDGEWATER — Chief Christopher D. Delmonte reports that the Bridgewater Police Department and Animal Control are investigating after a child was attacked by a family dog Thursday night.

On Thursday, March 25 at approximately 8:30 p.m., the Bridgewater Police Department responded to 152 Main St. after receiving two 911 calls reporting a child screaming and people yelling.

Upon arrival, officers found a 7-year-old girl in the back seat of a vehicle suffering from what appeared to be multiple severe bite wounds to her head and upper body. The wounds appeared to have been caused by a large gray pit bull that lived in the house.

Officers provided aid to the child until Bridgewater Fire Department paramedics arrived. She was transported by ambulance to a Brockton hospital with serious injuries and was later transferred to a Boston hospital for further treatment.

The initial investigation indicates that the child was outside in the backyard when she was attacked by the dog, which belongs to a family member. Other family members were able to get the dog off the child. It was later discovered that a second adult family member was bitten by the same dog during the attack and was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Bridgewater Animal Control Officer responded to the scene and the dog was taken into custody for a required 10-day quarantine order. A mandatory report was filed with the Department of Children and Families.

The incident remains under active investigation by Bridgewater Police Detective Peter Balboni and Animal Control Officer Lisa McKay.