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Rottweiler Bites Toddler At Person County Home Day Care

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PERSON COUNTY, N.C. — Fifteen-month-old Alexia Walker is sporting a nasty cut on her face that required two stitches to close. She was bitten at her Person County day care by the owner's Rottweiler.

"[I was] terrified because she called and said she has been bitten. You need to come and get her," said Katrina Walker, Alexia's mother.

Venessa Vaughn, the owner of the home day care, said the whole thing was an accident. She told WRAL that the dog was in the playground jumping for a toy Alexia was holding when he accidentally bit her in the face.

The Person County Sheriff's Office handles dog bites as a routine investigation, but Sheriff Dennis Oakley said this case is especially upsetting.

"I don't care what kind of dog it is. You don't know what a dog will do to a small child because if a small child has access to a dog, they could maybe pinch the dog or anything to cause the dog to snap," he said.

Walker said she is upset at Vaughn for letting the accident happen.

"I was very upset that she wasn't keeping a close eye on her. She should have been outside knowing that her dog was loose," Walker said.

The 4-year-old Rottweiler is quarantined at the Person County Animal Shelter until the investigation is completed. Vaughn said the dog will be destroyed.

The Person County Sheriff's Office cited Vaughn with a criminal summons of child neglect. Oakley said investigators will turn over their findings to the state agency which regulates day care centers.

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