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Boy mauled during Delaware County dog walk

By SHEILA STOGSDILL World Correspondent
Published: 10/13/2009 6:17 PM
Last Modified: 10/13/2009 6:17 PM

GROVE — A Delaware County boy underwent an hour-long surgery, receiving more than 100 stitches in his face and neck, after being mauled by a Great Dane at a Grand Lake dog walk.

According to a Grove police report, Troy Helms, 11, was attacked on Saturday after falling at the Strut Your Mutt dog walk, an event sponsored by the Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake, a private organization.

The dog, a black and white Great Dane is owned by Connie Norris, who was issued a citation by Grove police for the attack, the report said. Telephone messages left for Norris were not returned.

“People don’t realize how dangerous dogs can be,” said Dave Helms, the child’s father.

“I saw the dog bite,” said Lori Follis, Humane Society vice-president. “He (the dog) clamped down on his face. He had his face and neck in his mouth. It was horrifying.”

Follis said after the attack she has heard the dog has attacked other dogs at a Grove kennel.

Organizers at a board meeting will decide on what changes could be made at the event, she said.

Follis said that at the dog walk, participants typically bring in their dog’s records to the registration table. Follis wasn’t at the registration table and said she couldn’t comment on what records were presented by Norris.

Witnesses reported to Grove police that after the dog was pulled off Troy, Norris loaded the dog and left.

The dog was quarantined briefly at Norris’s house and was later taken to a Fairland veterinary clinic

when authorities found a rabies vaccination was not up to date, said Grove City Manager Bruce Johnson. By SHEILA STOGSDILL World Correspondent

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "11-year-old injured in dog attack," which was published on 10/14/2009. So far, 33 comments have been made.