PEARL, Miss. (WJTV) – A child is recovering after being bitten by a Pearl Police Department K-9 over the weekend, authorities said.
Pearl Police Capt. Brian McGairty said the incident happened on Sunday around 10:15 a.m in Gluckstadt. McGairty said the dog’s handler lives in that area.
The dog’s handler let him out of his kennel to use the bathroom. The handler went back inside his home to get some water; when he returned, he noticed that the dog had chewed the bottom of the wooden fence and got out of the yard.
Police said the dog was found a few houses down, and a neighbor told him that the dog may have bitten a child.
The handler was able to locate the child at his home. Officials said the K-9 bit the child while he was riding a bike. He was taken to Batson Children’s Hospital to be treated for injuries.
Due to state law, the dog must be quarantined for 10 days. The dog must also go through remedial training.
Pearl Police tells WJTV that they have six K-9 dogs on the force.
WJTV will update this story as soon as more details become available.