Doing a favor for a friend has left the 4-year-old son of a Mansfield resident critically injured.
Gabe Cooper was severely mauled in the face by a pit bull dog.
Mansfield Police say 28-year-old Allison Cooper, Gabe's mother, was also attacked while trying to rescue her son.
Cooper had gone to the home of a friend at 767 Park Avenue West Friday to look after her friend's dogs, while the friend was out of town.
She brought her son and mother, Julie Bond.
One of the dogs, a male, lunged out of its cage at Gabe.
Cooper tried to fend off the dog with her body, but it was still attacking the boy when police arrived.
Officers kicked it and fired 15 to 20 Taser darts in the animal before successfully subduing it with a snare.
Richland County Deputy Dog Warden Ray Scott says a second dog, a female may have actually attempted to stop the male from mauling the boy.
Gabe was transported by Life Flight to Akron Children's Hospital where he remains in critical condition. His mother was treated for injuries to her hands and arms.
Since 1988, Mansfield bans possession of any dog considered a pit bull.
Both dogs were taken to the county kennel. The male pit bull will be quarantined for 10 days. The warden says it could be ordered destroyed. The other dog cannot be kept in city limits, but it could be released to a pit bull rescue group outside of Mansfield.
Police plan to consult with the Richland County Prosecutor about charges against the dogs' owner. The owner could not be reached for comment.
Gabe Cooper was severely mauled in the face by a pit bull dog.
Mansfield Police say 28-year-old Allison Cooper, Gabe's mother, was also attacked while trying to rescue her son.
Cooper had gone to the home of a friend at 767 Park Avenue West Friday to look after her friend's dogs, while the friend was out of town.
She brought her son and mother, Julie Bond.
One of the dogs, a male, lunged out of its cage at Gabe.
Cooper tried to fend off the dog with her body, but it was still attacking the boy when police arrived.
Officers kicked it and fired 15 to 20 Taser darts in the animal before successfully subduing it with a snare.
Richland County Deputy Dog Warden Ray Scott says a second dog, a female may have actually attempted to stop the male from mauling the boy.
Gabe was transported by Life Flight to Akron Children's Hospital where he remains in critical condition. His mother was treated for injuries to her hands and arms.
Since 1988, Mansfield bans possession of any dog considered a pit bull.
Both dogs were taken to the county kennel. The male pit bull will be quarantined for 10 days. The warden says it could be ordered destroyed. The other dog cannot be kept in city limits, but it could be released to a pit bull rescue group outside of Mansfield.
Police plan to consult with the Richland County Prosecutor about charges against the dogs' owner. The owner could not be reached for comment.
