Pit bull mauls girl, 8, in Newark
- Update%3A Statement from family issued
NEWARK - The 8-year-old daughter of Newark Councilman Todd Ruckle was in surgery Saturday night, seven hours after being attacked by a pit bull inside their home in the Stafford development.
The attack took place around 1 p.m. in the first block of Adelene Drive, Newark police said.
The girl was bitten multiple times by the pit bull and suffered severe soft-tissue injuries and blood loss from the attack, New Castle County paramedics said. The girl was taken to Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Rockland, then flown to Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, where she was listed in critical condition Saturday afternoon.
The girl's mother, Maria Ruckle, said her daughter was in surgery at 8 p.m. Saturday.
"Today is the hardest day of my life. My daughter is alive and will survive," Todd Ruckle posted on his Facebook page. "She has 4 to 6 hours of surgery with three different teams of surgeons. We are praying we can save her arm. I am truly in need of love and support. Please send every ounce of positive thoughts right now."
The victim's 15-year-old sister might have saved the 8-year-old from more serious injuries, authorities said.
"She fought the dog off and called for help," county paramedics said in a statement. "She also helped control her sister's bleeding until help arrived."
After the older sister called 911, the dog remained aggressive and prevented them from leaving the room in which the attack occurred, police said.
The sister was able to carry the victim out of the room after police arrived, however. The dog's behavior prevented paramedics from immediately treating the victim, so the dog was shot and killed by a Newark officer.
Jerry Clifton, a longtime family friend who Ruckle replaced on Newark council in April, said the pit bull was staying at the home at the time of the attack, but wasn't the family pet.
Clifton had kind words for the victims' older sister.
"A person is defined by their actions under stressful situations," Clifton said. "To say what she did today was heroic is understating it."
"This is just shocking that it happened and we wish a speedy recovery for her," New Castle County Councilwoman Lisa Diller said.
Early Sunday, Newark officials issued a statement saying, "The Ruckle family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, but have asked that the media and public respect their privacy during this difficult time."
In 2013, there were 686 dog bites in New Castle County, 325 in Sussex County and 260 in Kent County, according to Delaware Animal Care and Control statistics.
In May, 4-year-old Kasii Haith was killed after being attacked by pit bulls at the home of a family friend west of Felton.
In April, 80-year-old Edward Yeninas, who lives near Newark, suffered 20 to 30 puncture wounds on his hands, wrists and arms and his 10-year-old poodle Yanni was killed after being attacked by a larger dog during a routine neighborhood walk.
Robin Brown and Yannelie Ranaivo contributed to this report.
Contact Adam Taylor at (302) 324-2787 or ataylor@delawareonline.com..
