One year old girl attacked by family dog, seriously injured

According to Falmouth police, at approximately 8:54 a.m. Sunday morning, the FPD received a 911 call from a residence on Brick Kiln Road reporting that a one-year old girl had been attacked by the family dog. The Falmouth Fire & Rescue Department and the Falmouth Police Department rushed to the residence, and immediately began treating the child. She was transported to the Falmouth Hospital by ambulance, and subsequently to a Boston area hospital by helicopter.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the child was playing in the kitchen with the father nearby. The family pit-bull terrier attacked the child and bit her in the face causing major trauma. The father immediately attempted to separate the dog from the child, but was unable. He retrieved a pistol from an adjacent room, but when he realized that it was not loaded he grabbed a knife and began stabbing the animal in order to protect the child. The dog was fatally wounded.

The family has owned the dog for 5 years. The preliminary investigation has revealed no known history of violence or aggression. At this time, the attack appears to have been unprovoked. The incident remains under investigation by the Falmouth Police Department with assistance from the Falmouth Department of Marine & Environmental Services, Animal Control Division