PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A woman and her 9-year-old son were attacked by a dog on Sunday, according to Port St. Lucie Police.
St. Lucie County Fire Rescue says crews responded to a report of a dog attack around 1:10 p.m. in the 100 block of NW Byron Street.
Officials say the boy was pinned down and bitten on the face. He was airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center as a pediatric trauma patient.
His mother tried to protect the child and was bitten on her body and was transported by ground to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce. The animal tore off a portion of her ear, officials said.
Police say the dog, called Tigger, is a "pit bull mix."
The dog was voluntarily turned over to animal control and will be given to the Humane Society for a 10-day quarantine. Police say it will most likely be euthanized.
Investigators say they later learned the dog had bitten an 8-month-old a year ago.