Court judge spares dog who mauled 4 year-old's face

On Tuesday, a judicial decision managed to spare the life of a dog despite the fact that he had viciously attacked a toddler and left serious injuries on his face. On the other hand, Municipal Court Judge Deborah Griffin believed that the pit bull named Mickey should not be adopted and remained sheltered in a facility for the rest of his life. Philly.com said Griffin ordered the state to have Mickey neutered, defanged and microchipped. Despite the compassionate decision to let the dog live following the canine's harrowing act, she managed to label him "vicious" earlier in the day and expressed in court that she could have succumbed to the plaintiffs' request to put the dog down.

Philly.com said Kevin Vicente was attacked by Mickey on February 20, with the boy later suffering with a broken jaw and eye socket. He is expected to undergo reconstructive surgery for months or years ahead.

The euthanasia question hung heavily in the air as supporters of the boy were clamoring for the dog to be put down. Animal activists, on the other hand, had blamed Mickey's owners for chaining up Mickey, which allegedly fostered his aggression, and Vicente's baby sitter for her negligence in the incident.

Griffin explained that there was equal responsibility that is to be shared by the adults involved in the incident. She said that Mickey's owners have put a "Beware of Dog" sign on their fence, but they have failed to keep the gate closed. Moreover, she said that children were allowed to play with the canine, whom Guadalupe Villa, whose boyfriend's mother babysat Vicente the day of the incident, claimed that Mickey has a history of aggression. Griffin expressed her distress on presiding the case, and said that the child will pay the price due to the circumstances that led to the mauling for the rest of his life.

Philly.com said Mickey's trustee, the New York-based animal rights group The Lexus Project, has 30 days to find a rehabilitation center for the canine.

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save Mickey the pitbull euthanasia petition, Kevin Vicente mauling incident, Mickey the pit bull euthanasia ruling

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