3-month-old in serious condition after attack in Monmouth Junction home.
By: Rebecca Tokarz
A three-month old Monmouth Junction boy remains in serious condition after being attacked by the family’s 85-pound Akita Tuesday evening, police said Friday morning.
The boy suffered about 20 puncture wounds to his lower extremities and was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in New Brunswick.
According to police, the child, who weighs about 14 pounds, was sitting in a reclining child seat in a room at the family’s Elm Court home in the Whispering Woods Apartment Complex just before 7 p.m. Tuesday. Police said the mother left the child in the seat with the dog, Sarge, and went to the restroom.
That’s when police said the dog mauled the boy, grabbing him from the seat, tearing the crotch area of one-piece pajama outfit and ripping off his diaper.
When the mother returned, she found her son face down on the floor, almost 2 feet from the chair, police said. The baby had numerous cuts from his stomach region and below, according to police.
Police said the incident was an accident and there are no plans to file charges against the mother.
The baby was taken by Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad to Robert Wood Johnson.
According to police, Sarge did not exhibit any violent behavior toward the family or neighbors in the past and was described as "docile."
However, the dog did like to go into the garbage in search of soiled diapers, police said.
"On previous occasions the dog had gone into the trash for soiled diapers," South Brunswick Police Department Spokesperson Detective James Ryan said. "More than likely, the dog sensed the baby’s soiled diaper."
The dog was taken by animal control to the T. Blumig Kennels on Old Stage Road in East Brunswick for observation and will also check the dog’s vaccination records. After 10 to 12 days, decisions on the dog’s future will be made, Detective Ryan said.
"If he’s deemed dangerous, he could be put down," he said.