Local 4-year-old boy left severely injured after pit bull attack

POCATELLO — A 4-year-old boy is recovering after a vicious pit bull attack that left him severely injured.

Ricky Hamann survived five hours of surgery following the attack and has more than 1,000 stitches.

“He had a big gash, it comes all the way through, completely through. It severed the nerves in his face. He’s got another gash right here that severed the whole lip, another one, he’s got cuts, bruises all over his face. It’s swelled up,” says Greg Hamann, Ricky’s father.

Bannock County Sheriff’s Office officials say that just after 3 p.m. on Sunday, Ricky was attacked by the pit bull just off U.S. Highway 30 near the Idaho Salvage Pool.

“His mom said that she was making something to eat in the kitchen area and Ricky come running up to ask her a question, and the dog just turned on him. Bit him in the face, she tried to get the dog off. It wouldn’t break until it heard Shaun, which is her boyfriend come running in and then the dog took off,” says Hamann.

Ricky was rushed by ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center and underwent extensive surgery.

The 3-year-old blue nose pit bull is quarantined at the Pocatello Animal Shelter.

“He’s pretty sore. He’s confused. He loves animals, always has. He’s got a sweet displacement with them, so I’m sure he’s very confused on what happened and why it happened. His face hurts,” says Hamann.

Deputies say the owner of the pit bull voluntarily gave up the dog to the animal shelter and is cooperating with investigators.

Ricky is in stable condition at Portneuf Medical Center.

The incident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed at this point.

This article was originally published by KPVI. It is used here with permission.