Five-year-old Jeremiah Rivera remained in critical condition Saturday afternoon after being mauled by two of his dad’s pit bulls, but his family was hopeful about his recovery.
The boy’s mother, Latoya White, said the boy was “stable.”
“I’m better, knowing that he’s OK,” White said. “Just his face has to get stitches.”
An uncle of Jeremiah said the boy, who suffered deep lacerations on his face and neck, was on a ventilator due to swelling and was not awake.
Andrea Mineo, a spokeswoman for Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, said that Jeremiah was in critical condition, but could not provide details on his treatment.
White said she was not at home on Riverdale Avenue in East New York when the boy was attacked about 6:45 p.m. Friday.
The dogs, in the family for less than a year, were normally kept in a cage, but got out or were taken out when the attack occurred, a relative said.
Jeremiah has two siblings, a three-year-old and a one-year-old.
“I just hope the little child pulls through. This is so sad,” a neighbor said.
Another described Jeremiah as “confident” and “smart.”
Both dogs were seized by the city and taken to Animal Care and Control Friday night.
EMTs rushed the bloodied boy to Brookdale Hospital, and he was later transferred to LIJ for specialist treatment, officials said.
An Administration for Children’s Services spokesperson said the agency is “deeply concerned by this troubling news and are investigating along with the NYPD.”
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