A 1-year-old girl from New Jersey is recovering after being attacked by a dog at Beach View Park in Miami Beach on Feb. 20.
Zoe Petranker was at the park with her father, Andy Petranker, around 10 a.m. when they encountered a man sitting on a bench with his dog, according to WPLG Local 10. Andy said the dog’s owner told him the animal was safe around children. Zoe briefly petted the dog and walked away before returning and moving around it, at which point the dog allegedly lunged at the right side of her face.
Andy told the outlet that he quickly pulled his daughter away and rushed her to Holtz Children’s Hospital. He said Zoe suffered lacerations to her lip and cheekbone and required nearly 40 stitches. He added that the dog “almost took her eye out from the corner.”
It remains unclear what breed of dog was involved.
Park Rules and Ongoing Questions
According to the City of Miami Beach website, dogs are not permitted in city parks except designated dog parks, and animals must be leashed while traveling to and from those areas. Beach View Park includes playground facilities for children, making the presence of a dog there potentially a violation of local rules.
City representatives were contacted for comment. The family has retained an attorney, and Zoe is expected to consult with a plastic surgeon as part of her recovery.
“The last thing we expect is to be at a park and something like this to happen,” Andy said.
Separate Dog Attack Reported in Hallandale Beach
Later the same day, another 1-year-old child was attacked by a family dog inside a home in Hallandale Beach, Florida. According to the Hallandale Beach Police Department, the child was bitten while his mother was changing his diaper. The mother was also bitten while trying to pull the child away.
Authorities said the dog, identified as a six-year-old American Bulldog, was removed from the home by Broward County Animal Care and Control. Further details about the child’s condition were not immediately released.
