Two Children Hospitalized After Dog Attack

By Chris Wright, News On 6

TULSA, OK - Pit bulls viciously attacked two small children Wednesday afternoon in North Tulsa. A 4-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl were hurt badly enough by the two pit bulls to be taken to the hospital.

Investigators say the children were playing inside their own home when the dogs suddenly burst through a door and attacked.

A pit bull was left behind at a trailer on North Yorktown. Earlier on Wednesday, Tulsa County deputies say two other pit bulls mauled two children inside.

Authorities say the dogs belonged to a relative who was babysitting the kids. They were locked in the bedroom, when deputies say they burst through the door, and went after the children.

"These are two 80 to 100 pound pit bulls, so both of them hitting the door at once, it wouldn't be hard to get through a door," said Deputy David Long.

Deputy Long says the 4-year-old boy was bitten on his ear and face. The 18-month-old girl suffered more severe injuries. Both are still hospitalized and investigators are not sure what triggered the attack.

"The dogs were able to get out the door of the bedroom, and attack the children. It was unprovoked by the children," said Deputy Long.

While this attack happened inside the trailer, residents tell The News On 6 vicious dogs are nothing new on North Yorktown.

Those who live there in the neighborhood say they are not entirely surprised by the attack on Wednesday. They say dogs have actually been roaming free in this neighborhood for years now.

"There's not a fenced-in area around here for them to be in, so they just run around wild," said Kelly Gregory.

Gregory's mother has lived in the area for more than two decades. He says if nothing else, he hopes Wednesday's attack draws attention to the neighborhood's dog problem.

"For her, it's very frustrating.  She has to stay in her house a lot.  When there's dogs running around, she can't come outside," said Gregory.

The two pit bulls have already been put down. Both will be tested to make sure they do not have rabies.