A 5-year-old boy from Hurricane, Utah, is recovering from severe facial injuries after being attacked by a neighbor’s dog.
According to KSL, Leo Fuller was bitten when he tried to hug the animal. His mother, Brooke Chugg, said Leo frequently plays outside with neighborhood friends when the incident occurred.
“One of my neighbors is knocking, pounding,” Chugg recalled. “I walk outside, and he’s got a shirt held up against my son’s face.”
Leo’s injuries were so extensive that he required hours of surgery, and according to a GoFundMe created to help his family, he will need several more procedures in the future.
KJZZ reported that the dog bit and shook Leo during the attack. The animal’s vaccination status remains unclear, and it is currently under quarantine. Chugg told the outlet she wants the dog permanently removed from the property.
A neighbor, Dylan Wall, who heard Leo’s screams, rushed to help. “I had no idea what happened, but he was losing a lot of blood,” he said.
Wall, who organized the GoFundMe, described Leo’s ongoing recovery as difficult, noting that the child currently has a tube draining saliva.
“Leo is the kind of kid who lights up every room he walks into — full of energy, laughter, and kindness,” Wall wrote. “Seeing him face something so painful at such a young age is truly heartbreaking. His family is doing everything they can to stay strong for him, but the emotional and financial burden ahead is overwhelming.”
