Dog captured in mauling of 1-year-old boy in Riverside County

LOMA LINDA, Calif. -- A dog was captured Saturday in the mauling of a 1-year-old boy in French Valley.

Animal Services impounded the dog, a 6-year-old Labrador mix named Dexter, at a home around the corner from the park where 1-year-old Kaidyn Sutton was attacked on Friday. The child's godmother identified the dog. She was present with Kaidyn's mother during the attack. The dog was originally described as a Rottweiler to animal officials.

Doctors at Loma Linda Children's Hospital said the child has suffered nerve damage to his face.

Kaidyn Sutton's grandfather Glenn Garrett told Eyewitness News Saturday morning that the toddler's nerve injuries may affect his ability to move certain parts of his face, including his eyebrows. Garrett said surgeons told him they may be able to repair the damage later with follow-up operations.

Garrett said thankfully, Kaidyn is currently in stable condition and resting comfortably.

The toddler was attacked while playing at Emerald Park at 31736 Emerald Drive Friday around 4 p.m. His mother said she heard her son screaming and saw a large black and tan dog, possibly a Rottweiler, grabbing him.

The dog bit Kaidyn in the forehead, temple to temple. His mother tried to get the dog off of her son, but the dog lunged again, this time biting Kaidyn in the right cheek and jaw, ripping it down to the bone.

Kaidyn's mother said she takes her son to that park almost every other day, and she has never seen the large dog before. She said the dog did not have a collar or leash.

A hearing will be held to determine if Dexter is safe enough to be returned to its owner. If the dog is deemed to be too dangerous, Riverside County Animal officials could recommend a destruction order. Animal Services says there is no record of prior incidents connected to Dexter. Animal officials said the dog's owners do have current license for Dexter. The dog was also vaccinated for rabies, and was micro-chipped, animal officials said.