Lunging pit bull sends 5-year-old boy to hospital

MADEIRA BEACH — A 5-year-old boy was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when a pit bullterrier bit him in the mouth, authorities said.

Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said the attack occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. when the child and his father entered a friend's Madeira Beach apartment.

The pit bull lunged at 5-year-old Jason Melitshka as soon as he and his father, 29-year-old Christopher Melitshka of St. Pete Beach, opened the door and walked into the home at 13337 Gulf Blvd., Apt C.

The dog snapped at the child's face twice, deputies said, before the father was able to get out of the home and call 911.

The friend, 24-year-old Daniel Neilson, was not inside the apartment at the time of the attack, sheriff's officials said, but was nearby. Neilson owns the 2-year-old, 65 pound dog.

The boy was taken to All Children's Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The dog bit him on the upper lip, sheriff's officials said.

Pinellas County Animal Services took temporary custody of the dog. No one was expected to be immediately cited, officials said.