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Dog attacks 6-year-old girl, kills family’s Pomeranian

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A Kansas family faces a dilemma after a dog they thought was friendly attacked their daughter and killed their Pomeranian. The incid...
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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - A Kansas family faces a dilemma after a dog they thought was friendly attacked their daughter and killed their Pomeranian.

The incident happened outside a home in Overland Park, but the dog and its owner live in the city of Olathe. That's complicating things.

"We just assumed if you're in Johnson County, everything in Johnson County the rules apply, and that's not actually the case," Kristene Canady told WDAF.

Canady and her husband Sean were sitting outside of their Overland Park home when a familiar face walked by with his 3-year-old pit bull mix.

"What was most surprising is the dog was so docile and friendly at the beginning," Sean Canady said. "We've had several encounters with him, and I didn't expect that out of this particular dog."

He said it's like a light switch went off in the dog.

"I heard this blood-curdling scream. Like as a mom you just never get that out of your head," Kristene Canady said.

Kristene said the pit bull mix pounced onto their 6-year-old daughter and then attacked the family's 5-pound Pomeranian, Niko.

Dog attacks 6-year-old girl, kills family’s Pomeranian

"As soon as he knocked her to the ground and Niko got loose, he latched onto Niko and just started doing the mauling shake," she said. "I mean Niko couldn't even yelp. It happened so fast."

Niko died a short time later. Their daughter suffered scratches and bruises to her neck and chest.

The Overland Park mom said it wasn't until after the attack they learned the dog had a history of violence.

"This dog living in Olathe but attacking in Overland Park tied the hands of animal control for Overland Park," she said. "Even though they work synonymously and have a great relationship, from what we understand, both police departments and animal control, the jurisdiction for the judge that would be hearing our case in Overland Park is limited of what he can require from the dog living in Olathe."

The pit bull was taken away and is in quarantine in Olathe. The dog's owner was cited for failure to confine, but the family hopes jurisdictional changes can be made so different cities can work more fluently when prosecuting a case such as this.

"If anything good comes from this awful situation is that could change to where it doesn't matter if you live across the street and you happen to be in Olathe or something happens conversely," she said. "Somehow that loophole needs to be fixed so that this other family doesn't end up in the same quandary."

In May, the pit bull will be in a dangerous/vicious dog hearing to determine its future.

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