Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, November 27, 1995                   TAG: 9511270077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PIT BULL BITES BOY, 3, IN FACE, THROAT

Justin Loving was treated at Roanoke Memorial Hospital for bites on his face and throat. His mother, Tammy Loving, said he had two gashes on his cheek, one under his neck, a cut on the side of his lip and a nick on his gum.

"They used little thin stitches like they use in plastic surgery," Tammy Loving said. "There were too many to count."

The pit bull's owner, whose name was not released because he has not been charged, told police he was feeding the dog and Justin got too close.

The owner has no immunization record or license for the dog, police said. Roanoke Animal Control officers ordered the owner to quarantine the dog. A police spokesman said Sunday the animal likely would be taken into custody and charges placed against the owner today.

Loving said she and Justin were visiting friends Saturday in the 2600 block of Garden City Boulevard in Southeast Roanoke. The dog's owner was staying at the house with the dog, she said.

About 7:45 p.m., Justin and the dog's owner had gone outside to feed the 1-year-old pit bull, Loving said. She heard them come into the kitchen a few minutes later. Justin was crying.

When she saw Justin's face, she said, she immediately took him to the emergency room at Roanoke Memorial. Her mother, Kathy Loving, called police, who interviewed the family at the hospital.

"I wasn't out there to see what actually happened," Tammy Loving said. "Anybody who owns a dog like that should know to watch it."

Justin, who had been around the dog twice before the attack, "stayed up most of the night crying out," Tammy Loving said. "He woke up every 30 minutes or so.