Utah boy, 5, left with severe injuries that required almost 3K stitches after being mauled by dog
SANDY, UTAH: A little boy had a near-death experience after a dog pounced at him while he was riding his bike to go to his friend's house. Mason Mihlberger was reportedly attacked by a husky on Wednesday, October 19. However, his parents saved him when they ran to protect him after hearing him screaming.
As per reports, the five-year-old child was airlifted to Primary Children’s Hospital, where he underwent treatment and got between 2,000 and 3,000 stitches following a skin graft. The boy’s devastated mother, Tori, said, “If me and my husband weren't there, my son would be dead right now. He went for his throat; he has bite marks on his throat.”
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“I don’t think I’ll ever forget that. All I can think about is looking down the road and seeing him look up at me and reaching out to me as if saying, ‘Help me mom,’ and the dog not letting go. His eyes were locked on Mason. As I came up the dog was dragging him across the road, just throwing him around like a rag doll. I don't know why but that dog wanted to kill my son,” Tori told KSL-TV.
The brave boy also recalled, “I almost died because he bit me in the cheek. He was dragging me all around, but my mom and dad came. I punched him in the face as hard as I can. It was good that I smashed him on the freaking road.”
Though Mihlberger has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home, he will need time to be completely healed. KSL-TV reported, "Neighbors, some of whom ran to help when they heard the screams, tied green ribbons on the trees in his yard. That’s his favorite color.” Tori added, “We’ve had so much love and support from everybody around us. I appreciate it so much.”
As per reports, the violent dog that attacked Mihlberger was caught by animal control and has currently been isolated. The police said that the county attorney will finalize the fate of the dog and if its owner will be pressed with charges.
Meanwhile, the child's aunt Tristen Cherie Smith has launched a GoFundMe for the boy with a message that read, “First off hello! thank you for looking at our fundraiser. Yesterday my nephew was riding his bike to go see if the neighbor kid could come play, when he started to ride his bike back home he was viciously attacked by the neighbors dog. He's only 5 years old and he's lucky to be alive. He has many many surgeries ahead of him. They need to reconstruct his ear and stitch up his face. Please any help is such a blessing.”
In an update to the fundraiser, which has received $8,890 out of its $15,000 goal, “He's doing so well considering what had happened, we just really want to thank you all for everything. We never expected this to make as much news as it has. From the bottom of our hearts thank you all.”