Arm Of 2-Year-Old Girl Is Torn Off By Wolfdog After She Reached Into Cage Of Animal In Sanctuary
A US toddler had her arm torn off by a wolfdog after she tried to grab the dangerous animal by its shiny collar following a reach into the cage.
The incident happened at the animal sanctuary of her grandparents in West Bloomfield, Michigan, in the USA.
Sophia Scraver, 2, stuck her arm into the cage of the animal, said reports.
My granddaughter, Sophia, was involved in an incident at Howling Timbers in July. Although, she had never shown…
Posted by Howling Timbers Animal Sanctuary on Friday, 9 October 2020
The incident happened in July this year, said reports on social media.
It is said that the severed limb of the kid was left lying on the ground following the incident.
Brenda Pearson, the grandmother of Sophia, said:
We believe she was interested in the shiny collar being worn by one of the wolf dogs… We believe she grabbed his collar and he pulled to get away. She then got her arm stuck in the fence at the elbow and lost her arm. After she was rushed to the hospital, I went back to the pen and picked up her little arm. I can still see it today. Her little hand was still closed as if she was still grasping the collar.
Brenda Pearson runs the Howling Timbers sanctuary.
She was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by child protection services, said the grandmother in a post she made on social media.
She added in the post:
Initially, I reported it as a bite but the more I thought about it, it didn’t make sense. If the animal bit an arm that was inside the pen, there would be bite wounds on the hand and lower part of the arm. If the animal bit the arm from the side, there would be a part of her arm missing.
The Michigan DNR (Department of Natural Resources) received a tip about the attack on the granddaughter of Pearson in July this year.
4 turtles, 6 foxes, 3 coyotes, and 2 fawns were removed from the facility on October 9, 2020.
Despite the attack, 47 wolfdogs are currently living at the sanctuary.
Anna Cullen, a conservation officer, said that the DNR is still investigating the facility that is being run by the grandparents of the victim.
Talking about the child, she said:
It’s not fair to this child who lost an arm. We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of anyone who may encounter any animal at Howling Timbers, including the health and safety of all the animals at the facility.
The grandmother of the victim says that the wolfdogs that they have in their sanctuary are licensed through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
She said that she got the permit in 2010.
In the post she continued:
I would like to clarify as others have expressed concern for the dog. The dog (wolfdog) is not going to be euthanised. During the initial investigation it was considered. After concluding this was not due to aggression or attack, he will live in sanctuary whether that be here or elsewhere.
In June this year, the facility that Pearson runs had an inspection.
The DNR was the one that carried out the inspection and she got a wildlife license at that time.
Officers came back in July and approved the license.
On October 9, 2020, DNR officers returned to her sanctuary and carried out a surprise inspection, said Pearson.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim, may she recover from the injuries that she sustained.