Center Moriches student bit by unleashed dog during track practice; Suffolk police still working to identify the owner
The student was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was evaluated and given his first dose of the rabies vaccine.
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A Suffolk County family is calling for a woman to come forward after she took off when her unleashed dog bit a Center Moriches student during track practice yesterday afternoon.
The student's father spoke with News 12 today, but asked that we not identify him to protect his family's privacy.
"The dog just ran up to him and bit him on the arm," the student's father said. "Took a good chunk out of his arm."
The Center Moriches track and field team was working out behind the high school, adjacent to the track, when a woman entered with her dog off-leash, according to Center Moriches Superintendent of Schools Ricardo Soto.
The student's father said his son was running along the perimeter of the athletic fields when the dog, unprovoked, bit the male student around 3:20 p.m.
The district said personnel attempted to speak with the woman, who picked up the dog and left without providing her name or any other identifying information.
"How could someone be so callous as to watch their dog, who they're in charge of, bite a child and then just walk away and flee the scene?" the student's father said.
The student was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was evaluated and given his first rabies vaccine, according to his father.
"We saw the ambulance and the cops at Center Moriches High School," East Moriches resident Karen Hatton said.
Suffolk County police confirmed it's investigating the incident, and the school district said it's fully cooperating with law enforcement.
"Someone knows who this person was with the dog," Shirley resident Cathy Gagliardo said.
News 12 drove through the neighborhoods on the east side of the high school property and found several breaks in the fence line dividing the school campus from neighboring homes.
The student's father said the dog was a medium-sized either golden retriever or yellow lab.
The Center Moriches School District said the exact breed was unknown, but confirmed the dog was yellow.
"This person has been walking their dogs in the past on these athletic grounds, and I don't think it's been enforced," the student's father said.
Soto said the district is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident, as well as its signage and security protocols. He added that they will consider additional measures to help prevent a similar situation in the future.
"Student safety is the district's highest priority," Soto said in a statement to News 12.
The district is asking anyone with information about the incident or the dog's owner's identity to contact the Suffolk County Police Department.
