Pit bull attacks Moses Lake boy

6-year-old airlifted to Seattle hospital

MOSES LAKE - A 6-year-old Moses Lake boy was reportedly attacked by a pit bull who entered the yard where he was playing Friday night.

A large pit bull reportedly pushed open the gate to the back yard on Sunny Drive in Moses Lake and attacked Alex Medina, Moses Lake police Sgt. Mike Williams stated.

"The child suffered severe trauma to his face, ears and scalp before the dog could be pulled off by the child's mother, other relatives and bystanders," he noted.

The boy was taken to Samaritan Healthcare for treatment. Once he was stabilized, he was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for more treatment.

He remains in the intensive care unit in the pediatrics division at the hospital, Medina's aunt, Alissa Gonzales said.

"He's going to live. He's going to have scarring," she said. "I can't imagine how many surgeries he'll have in the future."

His ears and nose were reattached to his face, Gonzales said. A portion of his scalp is missing leaving part of his skull exposed.

"He just wants to go home," she said. "He's not talking very much. He's heavily medicated."

She said it appears Medina understands what happened to him. He asks for his grandmother frequently and doesn't seem coherent most of the time.

Gonzales said she is grateful the pit bull didn't continue the attack to his neck because she believes he would have died.

"There's a chance he wouldn't be here with us today," she said.

The dog was held at the scene by witnesses until law enforcement arrived to impound the animal at Grant County Animal Outreach for quarantine, Williams noted.

According to protocol, the dog is held at the shelter during the investigation and to ensure it does not have any diseases.

The 34-year-old pit bull owner reportedly did not have any paperwork indicating vaccinations for the animal and the dog is not licensed with the city.

Possible charges were not determined, but police continue the investigation.

"It's not the first time pit bulls have attacked and it won't be the last," she said.

A car wash fund-raiser for the boy's medical bills is being held at the Sun Mart fuel station until 5 p.m. today.

Several donation jars will be placed in area businesses and a donation account will be established at a local bank soon.