7-year-old mauled by dog recovering from attack; Parker County dog owner arrested
A 49-year-old Parker County woman was arrested Monday in connection with an attack by her dog on a 7-year-old boy, who was mauled by the canine as he walked home from school in late January.
Authorities identified the dog owner as Patti Jean Bell-Neveling of Azle, who faces a third-degree felony charge of attack by dog resulting in serious bodily injury.
She was in the Parker County Jail on Tuesday with recommended bond set at $10,000.
Conner Landers, 7, suffered more than two dozen lacerations to his face, head and body in the attack.
Hospital staff credited a neighbor with saving the boy’s life after the neighbor repeatedly hit the dog with a large stick to make him release Conner after the boy was dragged down a street.
The dog was captured, quarantined and euthanized last week because of the severity of the attack, authorities said. The dog was tested and found not to have rabies.
Deputies with the Parker County Sheriff’s Office responded to the neighborhood in late January in the 1400 block of Lynock Lane near Reno.
Conner had gotten off a school bus and was walking home when a dog described as a black brindle boxer/bullmastiff mixed breed attacked the boy for unknown reasons. The dog had escaped his fenced back yard.
A neighbor reported her dogs were creating a ruckus when she went outside and saw Conner being attacked in front of her home.
When she tried to stop the attack, the dog went toward her, forcing her back into her yard.
The dog then dragged Conner down the street, but the canine released the boy when the neighbor grabbed a large stick and hit the dog.
Conner was rushed to a Fort Worth hospital.
Cassandra Ware, Conner’s mother, said her son spent several days in the hospital, suffering from lacerations and puncture wounds on his scalp and neck. He suffered numerous injuries on his face, chest and legs.
“He underwent more than three hours of surgery to repair nerve damage to his face and to close more than two dozen lacerations on his face, head and body,” said Cassandra Ware in a Tuesday news release. “The doctors anticipate he will need several more surgeries to repair additional nerve damage to his face and to repair his tear duct.”
Sheriff’s Office animal control supervisor Karen Kessler established an account to help Conner’s family with medical bills.
The account to help Conner is at Plains Capital Bank, 1001 Santa Fe Drive, in Weatherford. Anyone wishing to help can contact the bank at 817-598-5400 and donate to the Conner Landers Benefit Account.
Conner’s neighbor also was awarded $500 from fundraising efforts by animal control officers.
Kessler said the money to the neighbor was just a way to say thank you for saving Conner’s life.
“We commend Conner’s neighbor for her bravery and quick actions in saving him,” said Sheriff Russ Authier in a Tuesday news release. “We are praying for Conner to make a full recovery.”
This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 11:50 AM.
