Report: Boy required more than 50 stitches after Rock Hill dog attack

A 7-year-old boy required more than 50 stitches after being attacked by a dog while at a friend’s home in Rock Hill, according to police.

The boy’s father told officers he was called at work early Tuesday afternoon because his son had been attacked by a dog at a home in the 900 block of Pebble Road, according to a police report. He took his son to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, where the boy received more than 50 stitches.

Officers met with the dog’s owner on Pebble Road. He told officers he was at home with his children and some of his children’s friends and that “he left the house for approximately 15 minutes.”

The owner said when he arrived back home, the boy had been attacked, police said. He said the children were attempting to go inside the home when the lab mix came outside.

The 7-year-old victim became frightened and began to run, prompting the dog to attack, police said. The owner said he was not familiar with the boy who was attacked and that he “always advises his children to let him introduce the dogs to strangers before allowing them in the house.”

The dog’s owner was cited for violating York County’s vicious dog ordinance.

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 8:50 AM with the headline "Report: Boy required more than 50 stitches after Rock Hill dog attack."