KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (3/8): The Young-Williams Animal Center said Friday they will euthanize a dog that attacked a teen who was walking to a school bus stop on Feb. 28.
Young-Williams said they had temporary custody of the dog after the incident and that the dog was put under a 10-day bite quarantine.
On Friday, the Knox County Court deemed the dog "Dangerous Dog Level Two." This citation means if a dog attacks a person on three or more occasions while on the property of its owner when unprovoked within 24 months.
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The family of a 14-year-old attacked by a dog said they are "doing fine" after the child was treated for severe facial injuries.
The attack happened on Feb. 28 on Callaway Street in the Mechanicsville neighborhood. The Knoxville Police Department said a dog was running loose down the street when it attacked a 14-year-old walking to the school bus stop that morning around 7:30 a.m.
Officers and animal control responded to the attack and the teen was treated at East Tennessee Children's Hospital, KPD said.
WBIR 10News spoke to the teen's mother on Thursday. They said they were "doing fine" more than a week after the attack.
The dog's owner was identified as 35-year-old Erica Rhodes, according to the KPD incident report. She's charged with one count of dangerous dog level 2 and improper restraint.
In the incident report, KPD said officers spoke with witnesses who saw the dog running loose down the street. Rhodes told officers she was inside her home when the attack happened and stepped outside to find her dog off her property. She said she brought the dog inside her home after the attack.
Officers then interviewed the victim's mother at the hospital. Officers said the mom gave them photos of the bite and told them she wanted to press charges against the dog's owner.
She said her son was walking down the sidewalk when the dog came out of the front entrance of the owner's home and attacked him. She told officers her son was able to get away after the attack and went to a neighbor for help.
The dog is being held at Young-Williams Animal Center pending a court hearing to formally determine if it will be classified as a level 2 dangerous dog. If it receives that designation, Knox County code says the owner would have ten days to pay any necessary veterinary costs and reclaim it. If the owner does not reclaim the dog, it will be deemed abandoned and it might be euthanized. If the owner does reclaim the dog, then they would have to follow a long list of restrictions to keep it secure on their property.