The owner of a pit bull has been arrested after her dog attacked a toddler in Commerce City. The boy is expected to survive, and the dog died while being restrained.
Sue Tacket, 51, has been arrested in the case, said Officer Chris Dickey, a police department spokesman. Tacket has been charged with unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog, Dickey said.
The attack happened about 7:30 p.m. Sunday in a King Soopers parking lot, 4850 E. 62nd Ave., police said.
A 19-month-old child was “severely” bitten by the 90-pound dog, police said.
The boy suffered injuries to his face and neck, but he is expected to survive the attack, police said. The dog was tethered to a pole, and the child approached to pet the animal when it attacked.
While responding to the incident, officers used catch-poles to restrain the dog, which continued to “fight and be very aggressive,” police said. The dog was taken to the Adams County Animal Shelter, where it “died from asphyxiation” brought on by the “restraint process,” police said.
Tacket is being held at the Adams County Jail.
The child was among a group of individuals traveling across the country, according to 7News. The group had set up a small camp in the parking lot to the south of the King Soopers. The pit bull and its owner were also staying in the same location but were not known to the other group.
The boy was rushed to Children’s Hospital with serious injuries. The toddler was in stable condition and recovering from surgery.
Commerce City does have a vicious dog ordinance that bans pit bulls.
