Dog mauls 11-year old boy in Dorchester

BOSTON — A pit bull attacked an 11-year-old boy on Rock Terrace just after noon in Dorchester, according to Boston Police Commission William Gross. The boy’s screams were heard by an off-duty police officer who rushed to his aide. The officer jumped fences to get to the boy and try to stop the attack.

Police said the officer, whose name is not being revealed, is a patrolman. He eventually fired his service weapon in the area, though it’s unclear if the bullet hurt the dog in any way; however, it was enough to stop the attack.

>>>MORE: DA: Deadly shooting in Malden under investigation

Just before that happened, another pit bull was being held back by someone else on the property.

“He did the right thing, above and beyond the call of duty,” Commissioner Gross said of the officer.

The boy was bitten in his groin, neck and arm, and taken to a Boston hospital with serious injuries but is expected to live. Meanwhile, the officer was also transported to a hospital for observation after the traumatic incident.

>>>MORE: Plymouth Police K-9 shot and killed by handler following alleged attack

Both dogs, who appeared uninjured, were detained by animal control. The animals and child live at the same home, 7 Rock Terrace, a single-family home.

It is unclear if the attack was provoked, according to a Boston Police spokesman.

Cox Media Group