ONLY ON 3 UPDATE: Family of boy attacked by pit bull files complaint

Patron the pit bull is being held at New Hanover County Animal Control for ten days because it bit 13-year-old Vincent Marchese Friday. The ten day waiting period is to make sure Patron doesn’t have rabies.

Marchese says he was on the way to his school bus stop when the dog jumped over a fence and attacked him, biting his leg. He had to have surgery at New Hanover Regional Medical Center and is recovering at home.

“They should put it to sleep,” Marchese told us Friday. “Or at least do something with it so it doesn’t hurt anybody else.”

Monday the family filed a formal complaint with New Hanover County Animal Control. If it decides Patron is dangerous, he’ll have to be leashed and wear a muzzle.

Neighbors we talked with who live around the dog say students regularly bother him and could have contributed to the attack. If his owners object, they will have a hearing at dog court. Animal Control says there is no chance Patron will be put to sleep because this was his first offense.

We tried contacting Patron’s owner, Brian Ranson, a couple of times since Friday. He emailed the newsroom Monday night, and we’re in the process of setting up a time we can meet with him.