Cape Coral infant hospitalized after being bitten by family dog

UPDATE: As of Thursday, the infant is listed as being in good condition.

An 8-month old boy is being treated at All Children’s Hospital after being bitten by a family dog.

It happened at a home on NW 45th Lane in Cape Coral Monday afternoon.

Lee County Domestic Animal Services took the dog and said it was their first encounter with the animal.

Five years ago, the animal was rescued from an Illinois dog-fighting ring.

These fighting rings have two or more dogs fighting against each other, sometimes to the death, at the entertainment of spectators who often gamble on the outcome.

Despite the background of the animal, the family has not had any previous problems with the dog.

According to a report, the grandmother of the child went outside to cut the grass. While cutting the grass, the grandmother said she could see the baby through a glass door. The boy was in a walker in the kitchen. Suddenly, the dog attacked the baby, pinning the toddler against a cabinet.

The grandmother dashed into the home.

The grandmother separated the dog from the baby, but not before the animal injured the toddler. As a result, the baby suffered a broken collar bone,along with several deep scratches to the face and near his eye.

Cape Coral Police Department said upon their arrival to the house they noticed the dog was very aggressive, and continuously barked at the officers. It also had remnants of blood on it’s face.

More than 85 percent of dog bites that involve children less than 6-years-old were from animals known to families, according to the Florida Department of Health. More than half of these bites, such as the 8-month old toddler, occur at home.

The government agency warns adults to never leave an infant alone with any dog, including the family pet.