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[RealPitBull]

Pit bull pup who chewed off owner's toes back home
By Shawntaye Hopkins
[e-mail]

Pablo Alcala | Staff
Terry Smith sat on his bed Tuesday with China, his 5-month-old pit bull that chewed off four toes of her paraplegic owner while he was sleeping. Photo by Pablo Alcala | StaffThe pit bull puppy that last month chewed off four of her owner's toes while he slept has returned home.

On Tuesday, China quietly rested in bed next to Terry Smith, 27, who spent about 10 days in the hospital after he woke the morning of Jan. 29 to find that four of his toes had been chewed down to the knuckle.

Smith is paralyzed below his waist and did not feel China nibbling at his feet. A friend staying with him, Tim Cantrell, saw blood on the bed and woke Smith up.

"It didn't scare me or nothing like that, Smith said.

Cantrell said he saw the blood then realized his roommate's toes were missing.

Lexington police and animal control officers responded to the house on the 1400 block of Bryan Avenue, and animal control took China, who was returned Monday.

On Jan. 29, animal control Chief Nathan Bowling said the puppy appeared to be in good health and there were no signs that she'd been abused.

China, who is about 5 months old, has never been an aggressive animal, Smith said Tuesday. He blames the "pit bull phobia" that many people have these days on owners who don't raise the animals properly.

"It takes a person to make them that way," Smith said.

China usually sleeps at the top of Smith's bed, but sometimes she rests near his feet. Smith assumes his feet came uncovered and China went too far while nibbling at his socks.

A dog lover who was paralyzed about five years ago after falling out of a tree, Smith said he never imagined something like that would happen.

The four injured toes were stitched closed.

Smith said he thinks China understands that she was wrong because animal control took her from her home that morning.

Still, he said he plans to watch her closely and make sure his feet stay covered at night.


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