A Schuylkill County man is facing an animal cruelty charge after police say his dog attacked and severely injured his son, and he later attempted to euthanize the wounded animal – which had been shot in the head by a name trying to stop the attack – by feeding it chocolate instead of seeking professional veterinary care.
State Police say they responded to a home in the 300 block of W. Ogden St. in Girardville on Feb. 9 for a report of a child attacked by his own dog.
A neighbor reportedly told police he heard the juvenile yelling for help. When the child managed to open the front door, the neighbor observed a Pitbull latched onto the youth’s arm, which appeared to be severely fractured.
The neighbor told police he struck the dog multiple times in the head with his fist but was unsuccessful in stopping the attack. The neighbor said he then moved the juvenile’s arm out of the way and fired a round from his pistol, striking the dog in the back of the head. The neighbor then brought the child into his own residence and called for help.
The juvenile suffered suspected serious injuries to his arm and neck area and was transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
At the scene, a state dog warden informed the dog’s owner, Allen Ringgold, 46, that he was responsible for taking the injured animal to a veterinary facility to receive care or to be properly euthanized. Ringgold acknowledged the instructions, police say. The warden also noted the dog was not licensed.
The following afternoon, a caseworker with Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services arrived at the home to follow up on the incident. The caseworker observed that the dog was still alive, in poor overall health, and had a bullet hole in its head.
Ringgold told the caseworker he was trying to euthanize the dog by feeding it chocolate, police say.
The caseworker requested that Ringgold sign ownership rights of the dog over to her, which he did. She then transported the dog to Mountain Shadow Veterinary Hospital in Wayne Township, where staff euthanized the animal.
Veterinary staff determined the dog was in poor health prior to the attack, providing police with a list of neglect-related ailments that included severe malnourishment and severe lesions.
In a subsequent interview with police on Feb. 19, Ringgold admitted to giving the dog chocolate. He told police he did not immediately provide care for the dog because he was at the hospital with his son.
Ringgold has been charged with a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and a summary offense for not licensing the dog.
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