Baby, 4 Days Old, Bitten by Pit Bull Mix in Waterford Township

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A four-day-old baby was bitten by a Pit Bull mix in Waterford Township, and the dog show never have been at the home in the first place.

"That's my first grandson.  That's my pride and joy," said Wally Mersino.

Timothy Mersino, Junior was born on August 27th weighing eight pounds and nine ounces.  The little guy is the apple of his grandfather's eye, and he's devastated over what happened in the backyard of the family's Waterford Township home Tuesday night.

"So, I sat down on a bar stool and had him on my lap and my dog was sitting down by my feet, and out of the clear blue, he just jumped up and... snapped his head," Mersino said.

The bite happened in a split second, but the injury was severe enough that four-day-old Timothy had to be rushed to the hospital.

"He put a laceration on top of his little head," said Mersino.  "The baby's at hospital... and they did a CT scan.  Everything came out good.  They had a plastic surgeon do some stitches.  He should be home today."

The family dog, Floyd, was taken by Oakland County Animal Control officers.  However, the Pit Bull-American Bull Dog mix shouldn't have been in the house at all because Waterford Township has an ordinance banning the breed, and officials try to enforce it.

"I simply contact the owner and advise the owner of the ordinance and ask that they move the dog out of the township," said Waterford Township Prosecutor Walt Bedell.  "Our real goal is compliance with the ordinance rather than punishment."

"I did not know they were not allowed here.  If I would have known that, he wouldn't even have moved in with us," Mersino said.

We're told the dog has already been euthanized.  It's remains are being shipped to Lansing where it will be tested for rabies.  The results of that test should be known by Friday.

The report a Pit Bull in Waterford Township, contact the police at (248) 674-0351 or the prosecutor's office at (248) 618-7412.