By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A 13-year-old Hartselle boy received a serious facial injury when he was attacked by a chow dog in the home of a neighbor on January 9.
Michael Ellis was bitten in the mouth at approximately 5:30 p.m. when he went to the home of Willodean Rainey at 509 Broadway Street to bring home his younger brother, Christopher, according to his mother, Debbie Ellis. The dog’s bite left him without part of his lower lip and he had to have emergency surgery at Decatur General Hospital A plastic surgeon used 50 stitches to close the wound but additional surgery will be required to rebuild the youth’s lip.
Ellis said the dog’s attack was unprovoked and she learned later that it had allegedly bitten two other people. She said she filed a complaint with the Hartselle Police Department and discussed the dog’s behavior with the Hartselle animal control officer.