Toddler Dies After Pit Bull Attack in Portsmouth

A family is in mourning today after their 2-year-old son was violently attacked by their pet pit bull. News reports say the toddler was bitten by the pet dog on the afternoon of March 11. The victim was in critical condition when first responders transported him to a local hospital, but the boy later succumbed to his injuries. Not much more information has been given about the cause of the attack, but we do know that the one-year-old pit bull has been placed in a 10-day quarantine.

Could New Surroundings Trigger an Attack?

With so little information known about the moments leading up to the attack, it’s impossible to speculate as to exactly how something like this could occur. Piecing together bits of information as we learn of them is all we can do until the investigation formally concludes. A neighbor of the family’s says they moved into their apartment within the last week. Given the new environment, it’s possible the dog felt increased anxiety and lashed out violently at the person closest to them. Without more concrete details, though, it’s impossible to know for sure what triggered this attack.

Legal Options for Families

Dog bite victims deserve justice. While there is still so much more to learn about this specific case, we’d encourage the boy’s family to discuss their legal options with an experienced dog bite attorney. If the dog was adopted from a shelter that knew the pit bull had a violent history, for instance, the shelter could be held liable if they withheld information from the family.

Dog Bite Lawyer Richard Serpe

Virginia dog bite lawyer Richard Serpe has 34+ years of experience helping victims of personal injuries. We have helped numerous victims to get the compensation they deserve. These clients include children, adults, mail carriers, delivery drivers, joggers, pedestrians, and others. Contact Richard Serpe if you’ve been attacked by someone else’s dog.