Pit bull attacks 15-month-old Charlotte Blevins

OMAHA, Neb. -- Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey said Thursday that he is deeply disturbed by a pit bull attack on a child Wednesday afternoon.
An Omaha toddler underwent surgery Wednesday night to reattach her scalp after a pit bull attacked her and three other people. Police identified the most seriously injured as 15-month-old Charlotte Blevins.
The attack happened at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday near 13th and Pine streets.
Fahey's office said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims. The mayor will be scheduling a meeting with the Omaha Police Department and the Nebraska Humane Society to discuss options that could prevent similar situations, Fahey's office said.
Stefan Ray said he saw Wednesday's attack happen and ran to help.
"He kept on attacking them. He kept trying to jump on them," said Ray.
Police said two mothers were pulling two children in a wagon when the dog came out of its collar and attacked. Ray said the dog pulled Blevins from the wagon by the scalp.
"The baby was bald. Bloody and bald. I took a wet towel and wrapped it around her head like a turban," said Ray.
The toddler's mother, 29-year-old Wendy Blevins was bit by the dog when she tried to get between the animal and her toddler.
"The mother bent over her baby and when she did he grabbed the baby by the head and pulled her out of the wagon," Ray said.
Witnesses said the whole attack happened in less than 30 seconds.
The witness said the dog's owner, Tina Agerson, tried to restrain the 2-year-old pit bull, named Duke, but the dog continued to attack.
One of the mother's sustained bites to her neck. The dog bit the other woman on the hand.
The dog's owner said she was walking her dog when he escaped from the leash. She said the mother blocked her as she tried to pull her dog off the children.
Mark Langan, of the Nebraska Humane Society, said the owner was ticketed on suspicion of harboring a dangerous animal. He said more charges may be pending. Langan said the dog will be held for 10 days and will be put to sleep.
Both children in the wagon, and their mothers were hurt, police said.
The other mother and child are identified as 30-year-old Carley Spring and her 17-month-old son, Cade.
All the dog bite victims, except Charlotte, were treated for their injuries and released from the hospital.
Langan said the a cloth leash was not sufficient to restrain the dog.
"When you're talking a strong, aggressive dog like this, whether it be a pit bull or a type of dog that's very strong in nature, cloth leashes aren't going to keep these dogs contained or restrained," said Langan.
A block away from that scene, around 7 p.m., police said another pit bull attacked a 12-year-old boy, biting him on the arm.

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