An elementary school student at Heritage Academy was hospitalized Friday after a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office canine bit her during a school program.
The Belgian Malinois accompanied sheriff’s deputies to Community Helper Day, Sheriff Eddie Hawkins told The Dispatch. A female student grabbed the dog from behind, he said, and the dog turned around and bit her.
“She had to go to the hospital,” Hawkins said. “But I don’t know the extent of the injuries. … It’s a very unfortunate accident. It just breaks my heart. I’ve been sick about it.”
The sheriff’s office participates in Community Helper Day at the school every year, Hawkins said, where deputies hand out coloring books, talk to students and let them see a police dog in person.
On Friday, the canine – which Hawkins said is “trained to apprehend” – was already nervous because there were “a lot of kids in the room, a lot of commotion going on.” When the child grabbed the dog, it was “spooked” and “just reacted,” Hawkins said.
“This dog is very user friendly,” Hawkins said. “This is very uncharacteristic of this dog to act this way. … It really wasn’t the canine’s fault, and it wasn’t the little girl’s fault. … At this time, the dog has kind of been benched until we can do some remedial training.”
Heritage Head of School Sean Harrison did not respond to several calls and messages from The Dispatch by press time. Beth Lucas, director of admissions and public relations at Heritage, would not comment when reached Friday.
Posted in Columbus & Lowndes County
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