Child Injured in Dog Attack; Animal Shot After Second Incident in Hempstead County

According to the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a reported animal attack at approximately 11:17 a.m. on Sunday, March 22, at a residence on Northwest North Street in Washington.

Upon arrival, deputies found that a 4-year-old child had been attacked by a dog and suffered significant injuries. Officers immediately provided emergency medical aid, including applying a tourniquet and bandaging to control bleeding. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly afterward, and the child was transported to a nearby location for airlift to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for advanced treatment.

During the investigation, authorities determined the dog was not current on its vaccinations. Deputies instructed the owner to secure the animal for transport to a designated facility for mandatory quarantine and evaluation.

While efforts were underway to contain the dog, it became aggressive again and attacked an adult at the scene, causing additional injuries.

Due to the immediate threat to public safety, a deputy discharged his service weapon, killing the dog. No further injuries were reported following the incident.

The injured adult was transported to a local medical facility for treatment. The dog’s remains were taken to a licensed veterinary clinic for rabies testing; results are pending.

As a result of the investigation, the dog’s owner was cited for violating a county ordinance related to harboring a vicious animal. A court date has been scheduled.

The incident remains under investigation by the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office.