UPDATED: Monday, May 25, 2009
Read more: Local, Crime
ELSTON -- Update Monday May 25:
Five-year-old Rocky O'Ryan Scrivner, who was mauled by a neighbor's dog last Tuesday, had his stiches removed Monday.
The Cole County boy needed more than 100 stitches on his neck and face.
Rocky's parents tell KRCG his plastic surgeon did a great job and they only expect minimal scars.
The dog's bite just missed major nerves in Rocky's face. If they were damaged that could have affected his speech.
In the coming weeks, Rocky has to avoid the sun as much as possible to prevent the sores from discoloring.
Family and friends will be having a benefit for Rocky June 1 at the Capital Mall Pizza Hut.
20 percent of sales from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. that evening will go towards Rocky's medical expenses.
You can also donate to the Rocky Scriver Benefit Fund at Central Bank in Jefferson City.
Original Story:
A Cole County boy bitten by large dog is out of the hospital and at home Wednesday night, recovering from his injuries.
The focus now is on the police investigation launched to determine whether anyone is at fault for the attack.
It happened in an instant. "Literally two seconds is all it took,” said the boy's stepmother, Cindy McDaniel, who was a witness to the attack.
Five-year old Rocky Scrivner was playing in between his father's and next door neighbor's backyards with some other kids when the neighbor's mastiff, Tanner, ran into the yard and jumped on the little boy, knocking him down and biting his face and neck.
"We weren't even ten feet away,” said McDaniel.
"Imagine your five-year old son having his face bit by a dog,” said Ryan Scrivner, Rocky's father. “There's no description to it."
Ryan Scrivner ran to his son and the boy was flown to University Hospital in Columbia for emergency treatment. In all, more than 100 stitches mark Rocky's face and neck. His parents say he's lucky to be alive.
"He's been fine, he didn't complain about the pain,” said Scrivner. “He was more worried about his Spiderman shirt being cut off.”
Rocky's parents and many neighbors say the mastiff has been running the streets and threatening people for the past year. Neighbors say they've been calling animal control for about a year now about the dog. They say the dog that attacked Rocky has bitten at least two others, and when they've called Cole County Animal Control, not enough was done.
The mastiff was taken from the scene by Cole County Animal Control. Sheriff's deputies would only say the dog is still alive.
The Cole County Prosecutor has filed charges against the owner of the dog.
Stormy Garlin of Elston has been charged with with endangering the welfare of a child and animal abuse under state statutes, according to court documents obtained by KRCG.
The bull Mastiff is being held by authorities - they say the results of a separate investigation will determine its fate.
The sheriff's department confirmed with KRCG that they knew about at least one other instance of the mastiff biting a child back in March. The incident was not reported right away to law enforcement, and when it was a Cole County Animal Control officer spoke to the woman who owns the dog and told her it was her responsibility to control the animal.
Rocky's family has set up a trust fund at Central Bank to help with his medical expenses, you can call the bank at (573) 634-1111 for more information.
