NEWSLINE: MALAMUTE BITES BOY IN CHAFFEE

CHAFFEE - An 18-month-old Chaffee boy was attacked Thursday morning by a chained Alaskan malamute after he and two other children ventured into the dog owner's backyard.

The boy, who suffered a deep cut to his right cheek, remained in stable condition in the pediatric unit at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, a hospital spokesperson said Thursday night.

Chaffee Police Chief Ivan McLain identified the boy as Chris Miller, the son of Bill and Paula Miller of Chaffee. The Millers lived near the site where the attack occurred.

The attack took place at 129 Cook Street. At the time of the attack, McLain said, Paula Miller was visiting at the home of Linda Kennedy, 201 Cook, which is across the street from where the attack occurred. Kennedy reported the attack to police at 10:50 a.m., he said.

Larry Meuir owns the dog, McLain said. McLain described the dog as a full-grown Alaskan malamute who had bitten another child about nine months to a year ago.

"I've got a photograph of the dog and he's got blood on him from the kid," he said. McLain said the dog is white. He said he observed blood on the dog's neck.

McLain said the three children had gone into the yard. The yard has no fence, but warning signs about the dog are posted, he said.

A neighbor, Bill Chapman of 123 Cook, and a nearby telephone repairman, Frank McElmurry of Jackson Route 2, came to the rescue after hearing the children screaming, McLain said. McLain said the two had said the dog had apparently shook the kid and thrown him clear of the chain's reach.

"The kid was still close by but out of reach of the dog and bleeding profusely from the neck and face."

McLain said that Paula Miller, the boy's mother, had said she was on the phone at the Kennedy home when the attack happened.

Meuir, the dog's owner, was issued a summons for unlawfully maintaining a dangerous animal, McLain said.

McLain said he took the dog into custody and placed it in the city pound.