It's so important to be careful any time little kids are around animals. Even a child who grows up among pets all their lives can be involved in an accident.
One family is reeling after an accident resulted in a 2-year-old girl losing part of her arm. Sophia Scraver allegedly reached into the cage of a wolf-dog hybrid at her grandmother's animal sanctuary and tried to grab its collar.
From there, the police and the family share different stories. The family originally believed the animal bit the little girl's arm off. However, sanctuary owner Brenda Pearson said the more she thought on it, the more that didn't make sense. She now believes the animal's quick movement and the child's may have resulted in her getting her arm caught at the elbow and ripped off.
Authorities take further issue with the fact Brenda does not have active permits for all the animals within her sanctuary. She maintains this is because the city has dragged its feet.
A 2-year-old girl suffered a life-changing injury at an animal sanctuary owned by her grandmother. Authorities are investigating the Howling Timbers Animal Sanctuary in Muskegon, Michigan. The investigation comes after owner Brenda Pearson's granddaughter, Sophia Scraver, lost part of her arm after reaching into a wolf-dog hybrid's cage.
The incident occurred on July 23. In a press release, police explained that the child was bitten by a wolf-dog hybrid after she stuck her hand in the animal's cage to grab at its collar.
"No person should be allowed near those dogs," conservation officer Anna Cullen said in the statement.
"It's not fair to this child who lost an arm. We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of anyone who may encounter any animal at Howling Timbers, including the health and safety of all the animals at the facility," she continued.
The authorities began an investigation because they believe many of the animals housed in the sanctuary are housed there illegally.
Police officers removed six red foxes, three coyotes, four eastern box turtles, and two fawns from the sanctuary. Other non-native wildlife remained on-site, including 47 illegal wolf dogs.
"The DNR is currently investigating the unlicensed facility,” said Steven Burton, assistant chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division.
"We want to make sure that anyone who comes into contact with these animals at this facility is safe, and that all of the animals at the facility are being cared for properly."
However, the family says that's not what happened. Brenda also believed the animal bit off Sophia's arm at first. After more thought, she changed her mind.
Brenda shared her thoughts in a Facebook post. "My granddaughter, Sophia, was involved in an incident at Howling Timbers in July. Although she had never shown interest in the animals behind the cages, instead preferring to be carried or attached at the hip, we believe she was interested in the shiny collar being worn by one of the wolf dogs," she wrote.
"A wolf-dog that was friendly, loved to be groomed, and preferred human attention over treats. We believe she grabbed his collar and he pulled to get away. She then got her arm stuck in the fence at the elbow and lost her arm," she continued.
"After she was rushed to the hospital, I went back to the pen and picked up her little arm. I can still see it today. Her little hand was still closed as if she was still grasping the collar. She had no bite wounds on her arm. She had one tiny cut on her wrist."
"I was bitten when I went into the pen probably due to them being stressed from all the chaos. My leg turned black and blue from my knee to my toes. I had two puncture wounds. If she was bitten, hers would of looked the same," Brenda reasoned.
"Initially, I reported it as a bite but the more I thought about it, it didn't make sense. If the animal bit an arm that was inside the pen, there would be bite wounds on the hand and lower part of the arm. If the animal bit the arm from the side, there would be a part of her arm missing. None of that was the case which led me to believe my first assumption was wrong."
"I was investigated by CPS who found no wrongdoing on my part. I asked the CPS investigator if he seen any bite wounds in the pictures and he stated that he did not," she noted.
"I would of given both my arms to save hers but it doesn't work that way so instead, I will cherish the special little girl that amazes us every day."
In another post, she tackled the rumors about her operating illegally.
Brenda explained that in the process of getting permits in order, she was awaiting directives from some organizations. She was led to believe some permits had been granted that weren't. She also provided proof that she was fixing certain applications over the summer.
"She's been applying for licenses with different departments but doesn't follow through with the inspection process – she's failed to complete all of her applications," officer Anna replied.
"An application is not a permit."
Brenda is firm in that she's doing everything to be compliant.
As for Sophia, she is doing well, according to her family. A GoFundMe page has been started to help the family with medical expenses and with the eventual purchase of a prosthesis for the little girl. It's currently raised over $8,000 of its $12,000 goal.
