Owners pay $1,500 to get dog back after attacking a child

The dog that attacked a child in a grocery store parking lot last May has been reunited with its owners, for a price.

MORE: Pit bull attacks 4-year-old boy outside St. James City supermarket

Marilynn Martin said this particular case hit home for her. She says a pit bull hit her husband in Indiana several years ago.

“I took care of the mark on his inner arm. Thank God he went like this and had a bulky sweater,” Martin said.

The 4-year-old that was attacked by the pit bull was airlifted to a hospital in Tampa.

Lee County took the dog, named Sage, and eventually classified it as dangerous.

Sage’s owners had to pay $1,500 to register the pit bull as a dangerous dog in the county.

“I know people love their dogs, and um, I personally wouldn’t have all the cash to do it,” St. James City resident Gregory VanKirk said.

According to the county’s rules, the pit bull has to stay inside an enclosure unless it’s on a leash and muzzled.

“I think if the dog was known to hurt people, that like, a muzzle and a leash is not a problem as all,” VanKirk said.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office reports show the dog bit at least one other dog and an animal control officer before trampling the boy.

Sage is just one of the two registered dogs in the county.

WINK News reached out to Sage’s owners and they did not want to comment.