Alderman?s dog suspected of biting 8-year-old boy

An 8-year-old boy was bitten during a birthday party at the Jungle Jym this past weekend, with one of the suspected dogs belonging to McMinnville Alderman Bobby Kirby.

The victim required treatment at River Park Hospital for a wound to his left side inflicted by the single bite. While declining to be quoted, the mother of the victim did say said her child is doing well but that the bite left a large welt on his side. She expects him to make a full recovery.

The dogs, a golden retriever, reportedly belonging to Kirby, and a red-colored dog which had been seen running in the area with the retriever, are being held in quarantine for 10 to 14 days to ensure they do not have rabies. The dogs may be returned to their owners at the end of the period provided the city does not try to have them declared menaces. The victim?s family has reportedly been assured the Kirby dog is up to date on its shots.

Both dogs were quarantined although it is suspected the red dog, which does not officially belong to Kirby, committed the biting attack. Kirby did not return a call for his comments, although the victim?s mother said he did call her a couple of days after the incident to check on the condition of her son and to tell her his dog is up to date on its shots.

The incident happened Saturday as the boy was attending a birthday party inside the fenced Jungle Jym located next to the Civic Center. According to witnesses, one of the dogs bit the child without provocation. It was moments later a check of the retriever?s collar revealed she is owned by Kirby.

The city?s leash law makes it illegal to allow a dog to run at-large without direct supervision of its owner, regardless of whether the dog bites someone. It is also forbidden to have pets inside the Jungle Jym area, supervised or otherwise.

There have been no citations issued in regard to the incident.