ERIE, Colo.-
The family of a 9-year-old boy was trying to determine Tuesday why their mild-manner Labrador Retriever snapped and attacked the boy.
The dog, named Gordie, had been with the family for 7 years before the incident Monday in which police shot and killed the dog, the boy’s mother, Amanda Jolliff told Denver station KUSA-TV.
Jolliff said her son Josh was bit on the right side of the head, left shoulder and left hand after he went over to pet Gordie, who was whining at being chained.
“Josh has thousands of stitches to his head, I would say,” said Jolliff. “His scalp was hanging on by the skin around his ear on the right side.”
Veterinarian Barbara Mclucas told the station that the chain may have trapped the dog into a situation where it became aggressive.
