Dog Attack on Child in Senita Sheds Light on Perils of Unleashed Pets

A 9-year-old boy was mauled by two dogs Monday in Senita, resulting in multiple injuries and raising community concern about dangerous pets. The boy was reportedly attacked as he and his father returned home near a local store.

The child suffered bites requiring stitches in seven areas, according to a family social media post. “MPD responded to a young man that was bit in the leg by a dog that the boy was trying to pet,” said Maricopa Police Department spokesperson Monica Williams. The boy’s mother took him to the emergency room for treatment. By the time officers arrived, the dog had left the scene, and its owner had not been identified.

The family identified the dogs as English bulldogs, describing one as a black-and-white male and the other as a brown female who appeared to have recently had puppies. They have urged neighbors to alert police or animal control if the dogs are seen again.

As of now, the dogs remain unaccounted for. This incident follows a recent fatal dog attack in Tucson that resulted in murder charges against the owner of the dogs involved.

While the injuries sustained in Maricopa were not life-threatening, the event underscores the potential dangers of aggressive or unsupervised dogs, particularly to children. Arizona law holds dog owners civilly and criminally liable for attacks if deemed vicious or negligent.

Animal control officials advise residents to keep dogs leashed or contained and to report any stray or aggressive animals promptly.