Pit bull attacks young Hartford boy

Hartford, Connecticut (WTNH) - An eight-year old boy is recovering at home after being attacked by a pit bull. Police say the dog got loose and attacked the boy right in his own backyard.

It is hard to look at eight-year old Geno with hundreds of stitches and staples from his ear to his chin and cheek. The dog got him on both arms and even bit him on the back.

Police say it happened Tuesday in the backyard of his house on Sherbrook Street in Hartford during a family outing.

"Where were you playing when the pit bull attacked you?”
Geno answered, “At my cousin's house.”
“Did it get out of it's crate? What happened?”
“My god-sister was feeding it and it got out."

Geno says he tried to run but the dog knocked him to the ground and then started to bark and bite. Finally he was able to get up on a trampoline and get away from the dog.

He spent the night at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center as doctors stitched him back together.

Family member Carmello Diaz said, "I'm surprised it didn't get his chin. It could have gotten his throat and that would have been it. It would have been a whole another story."

Hartford Animal Control is investigating.

The dog has had its shots and remains in quarantine with its owners, who are related to the victim's family.

For now Geno is resting at home, but he doesn't want to go outside. He says he is scared and worried about being attacked again. His family is worried about him too and not just about the teeth marks and the puncture wounds that cover his upper body and face.

Diaz told News Channel 8 they will be taking young Geno to talk to a counselor.