Dog that bit young girl won’t be euthanized

4/22 Update: Whiskey Lives

John Welsh with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services told KESQ and CBS Local 2 on Friday, that Whiskey, the dog that was awaiting possible euthanasia after biting a young girl in Desert Hot Springs on April 4, will not be put down.

Instead, the terrier-poodle mix was transferred to one of the county’s longtime adoption partner organizations outside of the Coachella Valley on Friday afternoon.

The group plans to work closely with a professional behavior team to hopefully rehabilitate the dog and get her through some of her most serious challenges, Welsh said.

But, Welsh said it will be months of training before Whiskey is ready for adoption. The group working with the dog will network the adoption when it’s time.

Whiskey had been held in quarantine for about two weeks following the incident, while the director of animal services mulled over the dog’s fate.

KESQ and CBS Local 2 is still waiting for information regarding the girl’s condition. We have confirmed that she underwent at least one surgery stemming from the bite.

The hospital doesn’t release patient records so we’re waiting to hear back from the girl’s family for an update.

4/14 Update: Many viewers have been asking us about the status of Whisky, the dog that bit a young girl in Desert Hot Springs on Monday, April 4. The terrier-poodle mix was expected to be euthanized after his owner relinquished him, following the attack, but the decision was put on a 10-day hold for animal services to discuss Whisky’s fate.

According to Riverside County Department of Animal Services Spokeman John Welsh, “Today [Thursday] is the last day of the ten day quarantine period but this dog normally would have been euthanized, per the owner’s wishes, when the owner relinquished ownership the very night of the bite and signed her over for euthanasia.”

“It was our director’s actions that put a hold on the euthanasia, per his review of the incident and the dog itself; He initially wanted to keep the dog for what is a normal quarantine hold period, 10 days, and review the dog himself, with his key team members. That hold period can always be extended,” Welsh added. “I think it’s a very good public awareness story about how even small breeds can cause serious damage to children. And, of course, this is all the more reason for dog owners to be extra vigilant in keeping our community’s young people safe when they have a pet that may be prone to aggressive tendencies,” Welsh concluded.

As for the 5-year-old girl who was bitten, we don’t have an update on her condition at this time. But, we have learned that she had at least one surgery resulting from the bite.

4/4 Fate of dog that bit girl remains uncertain:

A 5-year-old girl was taken to the hospital after being bitten in the face by a dog on Monday afternoon, and now the terrier-poodle mix that bit her is expected to be euthanized.

But, the dog is still alive and his fate is uncertain at this time.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 received dozens of phone calls and messages via social media about the story on Tuesday; a mix of animal lovers advocating for the dog and parents wondering how they would feel if it happened to their child.

Many initially thought the dog had already been euthanized early Tuesday morning, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. Now the question: What will happen to the dog named ‘Whiskey’.

The incident happened inside the Desert Oasis Mobile Home and RV Park on Corkill Road near Dillon Road, south of Desert Hot Springs, at about 4 p.m. A 15-year-old boy in the area told us he was the one who rescued the girl from the dog while it was attacking her.

Poll Question: Do you think the dog should be euthanized in this case?

Animal service officials said the girl suffered fairly significant facial injuries.

Authorities said the girl was a visitor at the home and the dog was inside its own property when the bite happened. Whiskey is a 4-year-old terrier poodle mix, according to animal services.

“The dog was relinquished by the owner for humane euthanasia,” said John Welsh, with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

But, the dog will now be held for ten days until Director of Riverside County Animal Services Rob Miller decides if an alternative can be met, Welsh told us on Tuesday.

While Whiskey’s owner did not want to talk on camera, she said she released him for the sake of the little girl. She said it was like losing a family member.

Welsh said while everyone is worried about Whiskey, we need to remember the little girl as well.

“We release a photo of a dog and everyone thinks, ‘what a sweet looking dog’, of course they haven’t seen the little girl, who’s face is damaged and possibly scared for life,” said Welsh.

He said children and animals can be unpredictable.

“From our understanding the little girl was playing with the dog and it was just a matter of moments when she tried to pick the dog up from behind, and from playful moments the dog turned and bit her in the face,” Welsh added.

While Whiskey’s owner said he’s never attacked anyone before, Welsh said he sees a different side.

“I just went back to see the dog myself, it snarled at me, that’s pretty common if it doesn’t know me but some of our veteran employees said they can’t even get near the dog,” Welsh said.

If Director Miller decides Whiskey gets a second chance, they would first discuss it with his previous owners. Whiskey’s owners told us her kids want him back and are sad he’s gone.

In the meantime, the little girl is recovering from serious injuries.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will keep you updated on the girl’s condition and the hold period, as it moves forward.