Safety Harbor boy attacked, seriously hurt by his new family pet

SAFETY HARBOR — A 6-year-old boy suffered serious bite injuries Sunday evening after he was attacked by a large dog that his family had only recently adopted.

Tydal Sugar was taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg with serious injuries, though Pinellas sheriff's officials said they expected the boy to survive.

The attack occurred just before 6 p.m. in a grassy common area at 300 Salem St. in Safety Harbor.

Witnesses reported hearing screams, then seeing Tydal's mother, Rosemary Sugar, trying to protect her son from the dog.

One witness, Monica Smith, said she was sorting laundry in her bedroom when she heard the boy scream.

Smith ran to her lanai and saw Sugar trying to pry the dog off the child. Smith ran to help.

"She kept trying to push the dog away and cover the child to protect him," said Smith, 40. "She kept saying 'Please help me.' "

Sheriff's officials said the dog was a male pit bullterrier, but neighbors said they believed the stocky, tan dog with a black muzzle was a mixed breed.

Deputies believe the dog may have become aggressive after the boy stepped in an ant pile and began screaming and flailing.

The dog backed off as Smith and Sugar, 34, screamed for him to get away, Smith said.

Deputies put the dog in the back of a patrol car until Pinellas County Animal Control officers arrived and took it into custody.

Less than an hour before, neighbor Brigitte Davey, 67, was on her way back from the pool when she stopped to say hello to Rosemary, Tydal and the dog — who she said is named Tucker.

"I even petted the dog. I think he even licked my face," Davey said. "He seemed to be a friendly dog."

Comments on this article

by BB

Aug 7, 2008 4:05 PM

Farewell to Tucker To those of you who were hoping that Tucker, the mix breed who bit the 6 year old last Sunday, was going to be put down, your wish has come true today. You are very ignorant to think this was his fault. This was not Tucker's fault, or the boys fault, nor his family and it surely wasn?t the rescue groups fault. The only person to blame here is the moron who allowed him to be born only to abuse him with buckshots and who knows what else. Now because of this moron, who is surely still abusing animals and probably people today, so many hearts are broken. I truly hope that at least one person will learn from this experience and not breed their pet, since there is such a pet overpopulation tragedy, and even more so, be more compassionate to animals. Tucker had to pay the ultimate price of death. The only thing holding me together is the fact that the last 8 months of his short life were the best times of his life.

by Andy	Aug 6, 2008 8:58 AM
Blame the size, strength, and breeding of this dog. A small dog can nip at me all day. It isn't going to kill me. Go to a shelter. There are tons of them. Perhaps Vick like dog fighting is a big reason. Passing those genetic traits to your home.

by Fred	Aug 6, 2008 8:58 AM
Thousands hack at the branches to one striking the root of the problem: EVERY DOG is a dangerous instrumentality. Make it harder to obtain ANY dog; you must weed out uncommitted owners (typical Americans) who don't train & socialize their dog.

by steve	Aug 6, 2008 8:58 AM
People these are animals the breed is known to be dangerous. Be responsable and don't own a pit bull mix if you have children. Human life is way more important than the life of an animal. I own dogs but would have no problem putting an animal down

by Mandi	Aug 6, 2008 8:58 AM
Good Lord. A dog simply needs to sniff the rear end of a pit bull to be labeled as one these days. That dog is not a pit bull and doesnt even look like one. More fear mongering for the ignorant.

by Ann	Aug 6, 2008 8:58 AM
I agree with Leslie. It's hard to say what the dog was treated like before it was adopted. Any dog will respond when seeing a child screaming & yelling. The mother should have been keeing better watch on the child.

by DAVID	Aug 6, 2008 8:58 AM
A good, safe pit bull is a dead one.

by Zanna	Aug 6, 2008 8:44 AM
A child cannot be at fault for freaking out when bitten by ants and an animal cannot be faulted by acting like an animal. The DDR has rescued too many dogs to let this horrible incident be the death of many great dogs. Please Leave room for JOY.

by Mel	Aug 5, 2008 8:04 PM
I would love to adopt this dog if it is being faced with euthanization. I own a pit/Rott mix who is wonderful (11 years worth of wonderful). This is just a sad story for both the family and the dog. No blame is warranted. I wish the best for all.

by Stacey	Aug 5, 2008 7:44 PM
I hope someone can adopt this dog, before the poor thing is put to sleep. He didn't ask to be abused as a puppy! He deserves to go to a family that can raise him properly !

by Kate	Aug 5, 2008 4:11 PM
That dog is 100% Blackmouth Curr. I have 2, and they're identical to him. You need to research your dogs before you go bashing Pit Bulls. It's ALL about how you raise them!

by john	Aug 5, 2008 11:45 AM
Tim you are an idiot! Demon Dog please it's the owners that raise them not the breed that determines if it's dangerous or not. All animals when scared will defend themselves it's something you must consider when getting an Dog of any breed.

by Darlene	Aug 5, 2008 11:44 AM
well i remember when i was a kid the dog to watch out for was the doberman people said they were known to attack their owners..now its the pitbull moral of the story is ANY dog will bite doesnt matter what breed even lil poodles have attacked people

by a	Aug 5, 2008 11:44 AM
I've done 14 years of dog rescue - mostly breed specific rescue for rottweilers. ANY dog that bites a child should be euthanized. A rescue dog who has bitten is a liability - to the rescue group and the potential adopter.

by Carrie	Aug 4, 2008 9:46 PM
This isn't even a pit bull! Get your facts straight!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmouth_Cur Anything to create hysteria. Damn media.

by Pitt Mommy	Aug 4, 2008 8:49 PM
That dog is a Black Mouth Curr, but regardless, ANY dog could have reacted the same in that situation. Small person screaming and flailing... they take that as a threat. The dog reacted as nature intended it to. This is why we need to TRAIN our dogs.

by Lalala	Aug 4, 2008 6:12 PM
Just so you guys all know, they were in a public park type area and the mother was around and within a safe distance. It wasn't a brand new dog they had, it was adopted last year sometime and never had an issue. Thankfully the boy is ok and home now

by Tonya	Aug 4, 2008 6:11 PM
What is going to happen to the dog ? I say send the mother to the shelter . She is the one that is wrong. Hey lady parent your child. Ever think the dog was trying to help the child???

by Dave	Aug 4, 2008 4:28 PM
It was mom's job to watch that child ALL THE TIME. Send her to a shelter. Like everyone else I'm sick of people blaming the breed of dog, instead of the breeding of stupid humans. Its sickening.

by Leslie	Aug 4, 2008 3:56 PM
I am so sick of people blaming the breed. It is all about parenting . Any dog can be provoked not just a pit. Get real it is not the breed it is the humans that do the ugly things they do to the pits. Look at Michael Vics dogs He is the nasty one

by PITPositive	Aug 4, 2008 2:09 PM
You don't EVER leave a child alone with a dog you just adopted - you don't know the dog's history or background. It takes at least a month of supervision and seeing reactions in a variety of situation before building trust. Adopt and get trained.

by MS	Aug 4, 2008 2:09 PM
He prob attacked bc the lil boy was teasing him, and did u read the part about him being on a leash, the dog was prob defending himself, why wasnt mom watchin if they just got the dog? My prayers go out to the little boy.

by John

Aug 4, 2008 1:45 PM

I have owned six pitbull terriers in my life and they were all gentle dogs who never bit anyone. The problem is, they (along with a few other macho breeds) have become the choice of idiots ? people who should never be allowed to own ANY breed of dog. A dog is a blank slate the owner fills in the details. I do not know of one dog expert or vet who believes that one breed is more vicious than another. The is no substitute for responsible ownership.

by Kelly	Aug 4, 2008 1:40 PM
RG -- No dog has locking jaws get that str8. Read an anatomy book or call a vet & educate urself. Adopted from where-- SPCA wont adopt that breed to homes with kids. Strange dog in a home with kids NEVER MIX.

by Cori	Aug 4, 2008 1:40 PM
Before you go and blame every attack on pits you should learn your breeds. That is a black mouth curr. I have a pit, work at a shelter for 5 years, and I've been a vet tech for 3 1/2 years. It is the media that gives this breed such a bad name.

by AB	Aug 4, 2008 1:40 PM
Because of the abuse this dog endured EARLY on his life, before he was rescued, has more than likely been the cause. The persons who abused him, should be shot. Has NOTHING to do with the breed!

by fozzy	Aug 4, 2008 1:35 PM
"at least part pit bull" just HAD to be in there to perpetuate the media's ongoing fear mongering. Not much of a story without something to be afraid of. Well done, Times.

by Kurt	Aug 4, 2008 1:35 PM
Animals do not know how to rationaize (also, true with some humans). Don't leave children alone with dogs. A dog is looking for it's place (or pecking order) and will occasionally, test it's place in the big picture.

by kerri	Aug 4, 2008 1:35 PM
the dog looks nothing like a bull terrier. agree with other comments - you CANNOT leave children alone with your pets. there is no telling if the child pulled it's tail or something else provoked the dog. they are instinctive hunters. lesson learned.

by PeeWee	Aug 4, 2008 1:34 PM
The dog is part pit. I work with this poor childs father. But not all pits are bad animals, if there raised the right when then they are fine. this dog having been adopted could have been raised horribly. Get well soon Tydalwave!

by Jeff	Aug 4, 2008 1:33 PM
Pit Bulls need to be banned. You can't keep a lion as a pet without special, hard to get permits because they are DANGEROUS. The same logic applies to Pit Bulls.

by I C	Aug 4, 2008 1:31 PM
LISA- (That was the same thing I was going to say ) Kids & Dogs don't mix !!

by Stephanie	Aug 4, 2008 1:28 PM
The boy stepped in an ant pile and started screaming & flailing? Is is possible the dog was trying to help? or maybe the boy accidently kicked the dog? The dog may have pit bull in it but that is not a bit bull?

by Susan	Aug 4, 2008 1:27 PM
If you have children, you adopt a puppy not an adolescent or older dog. Parents need to use their brain. I hope this child recovers quickly and that a fear of dogs is not instilled in him forever.

by Frankie	Aug 4, 2008 1:27 PM
The dog in the picture is not a pit bull it is a rare breed called Southern Blackmouth Cur. You can Google it if you don't believe me.