A Sumter County boy was bit in the ankle by a dog and was so seriously injured that he had to be airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said it happened around 6:45 p.m. Thursday at a home located on County Road 317A in Bushnell.
Investigators said the boy was riding his bicycle in front of his home when the neighbor’s Bulldog came through the fence and grabbed the boy by his right ankle. Police and an ambulance were called to the scene where paramedics determined that the boy’s ankle was broken. Paramedics stabilized the boy and he was then airlifted to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando.
Deputies spoke with owner of the dog, Kris Heubach, 41, who told them he wanted to surrender the dog to animal services and that the dog had never bit anyone and was very good with kids. Heubach provided the dog’s shot records which showed the dog’s vaccines were up to date. Sumter County Animal Services then took custody of the dog without incident.