Detroit Lakes family recovers after family dog attacks 2 kids in as many days

DETROIT LAKES — Accidents, trauma and loss. A Detroit Lakes household skilled all of that after their household canine Moose instantly attacked the youngest little one on Wednesday, March 1, and the oldest little one on Thursday earlier than the mother even had time to consider what to do with the instantly harmful canine.

Robin Nelson left the home for a short time for a hair appointment. In the course of her appointment, she received a textual content from her daughter.

“She despatched me an image that I’ll by no means ever overlook of my son,” Robin Nelson mentioned.

The household mentioned 5-year-old Liam had tripped and fallen on the ground whereas taking part in at house, then their canine Moose pounced on him. Her daughter Bailey managed to tug Moose off, they usually took Liam to the emergency room, the place they had been informed he wanted to be dropped at Fargo. The scars from the assault would have been substantial with out the assistance of a plastic surgeon.

They needed to courageous Wednesday’s storm to get to Fargo.

“It took us about two hours to get there, however he wanted to be seen, like, instantly,” Robin Nelson mentioned.

Surgeons needed to restore Liam’s septum, reconstruct cartilage in his nostril, reattach his inside lip to his gum, and repaired a severed nostril. Harrowing accidents that shook his mom to her core.

Earlier than they even had deliberate their subsequent transfer with Moose got here one other assault, this time in opposition to 11-year-old Bailey.

“She gave the cat some water,” Nelson mentioned. “She heard him growl so she stood up quick. And the subsequent factor she knew he was on prime of her and biting the again of her head.”

The assault left Bailey with staples in her head. A horrific expertise for a household of canine lovers.

“She’s had panic assaults all through the day,” Nelson mentioned. “Wish to the place she’s hyperventilating and virtually passing out. Simply the considered the canine sends her right into a panic. So there is a lengthy highway of therapeutic forward.”

The household made the troublesome choice to euthanize Moose after the second assault. Little Liam’s too younger to know why.

They solely had Moose for just a few months, and the household mentioned he had by no means prompted issues for them earlier than. That it occurred quick and out of nowhere.

“Like a flipped swap,” Nelson mentioned. “And we do not know why.”

“He was spoiled rotten and was liked and brought care of,” Nelson mentioned. “So I assume the lesson in it possibly could be to essentially do your analysis on breeds of canines. Be sure to know their historical past.”

Moose was a Nice Pyrenees, a big and highly effective working canine breed. Nelson says she received Moose from somebody who could not handle him anymore, and she or he would not know what Moose’s historical past was earlier than then.

Nelson is taking time without work work from her job as a preschool trainer to assist together with her children.

A household good friend has began a fundraising marketing campaign to assist maintain meals on their desk because the household recovers. Donations might be made

right here.

Mike McGurran has been a reporter and anchor at WDAY-TV since 2021.