Pit bull attacks boy, animal is quarantined

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The tan pit bull that attacked 6-year-old Paul J. Richardson Jr. on Sunday is being held at the Mahoning County kennel.

County dog warden Michael Fox said the animal will be held in quarantine for 10 days before being put down.

“The owner has paid the fees to have the dog held here,” he said. “So unless the owner decides to come back and redeem the dog, she will be euthanized when the 10 days are up next week.”

The boy, nicknamed “PJ”, was playing in the yard of his Republic Avenue home around 8 p.m. Sunday, when the tan dog got out of the backyard pen and attacked him.

Savage, the family’s other pit bull, was also taken into custody, but has since been released, Fox said.

He said the boy’s father, Paul Richardson Sr., paid $186 in licensing, impound, housing and euthanization fees between the two animals.

The 10-day quarantine, imposed by the Mahoning County Board of Health, is effective for any warm-blooded animal at risk for rabies that has bitten or salivated on a human.