August 4, 2009

In an undated photo, Chrissie and Michael Smith are shown with their son AJ. The infant was released from the hospital on Sunday, August 2, after recovering from injuries caused by their dog.(ZT Pet News Photo Courtesy of Univ. of Ky. Medical Center)

Baby Home, Dog Seeks New Home after Crib-Snatching Incident: An unusual tragedy has ended in a best case scenario -- a newborn, who was snatched from his crib and sustained critical injuries from the family's dog, will recover fully, while the dog will get a second chance.

NEW YORK -- Alexander James "AJ" Smith came home from the hospital on Sunday after recovering from injuries sustained on Monday, July 20, when the family dog carried the infant out of his crib and into the family's Nicholasville, Ky., backyard.

At the time of the incident, AJ was just 3-days-old, having arrived home from the hospital as a newborn on Sunday, July 19. The tragedy left AJ in critical care for about a week as he fought to heal from two collapsed lungs, a skull fracture, broken ribs and various cuts and bruises at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington.

With AJ expected to make a full recovery, the Jessamine County Sheriffs department is still conducting its investigation, which should wrap up investigation within the next couple weeks, says Major Alan Peel, although it is unclear if criminal charges will be brought against the parents, Michael and Chrissie Smith.

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As for Dakota, the 4-year-old Native American Indian Dog, he remains under the care of Jessamine County Animal Control's SAVE Center where they are working to find him a forever home.

"We've had some nice offers from private homes," said Jenise Smith, the center's director.

"I'm really leaning toward a sanctuary but nothing has been decided yet. I just put everything on the table with Mr. Smith. At this point, he has not surrendered the dog to us. He could take the dog and place her wherever he likes."

Smith also told The Lexington Herald-Leader that the center is not taking any more applications.

"I think we all want the same thing. We just want what's best for her," Jenise Smith said.

The unusual incident happened on 1p.m. Monday, July 20, in the home of parents Michael and Chrissie Smith on Beaumont Road, in Nicholasville, Ky., a central, rural area of the state.

"It's unique by far. You think you've seen everything and then something new happens," Jessamine County Chief Deputy Major Allen Peel said in an interview with ZT Pet News previously.

Minutes after laying AJ down for a nap upstairs, the parents noticed both Dakota and baby were missing.

Michael Smith ran to the backyard, where Dakota had a history of taking things she had swiped from the house, as reported by The Associated Press.

The Jessamine County Sheriffs department reported Smith then chased the dog, which left the baby in the nearby woods 150 yards from the home.

"We do not know if the family had introduced the baby's scent before (arriving home on Sunday evening)," said Peel.

The 4-year-old Native American Indian Dog is one of three dogs the family has had for years. Dakota had never before shown signs of aggression to the family's two other children, and the incident has not be found to be a vicious attack, nor has she shown signs of aggression since July 20.

Jessamine Animal Control officer Earl Hatter called it "a freak accident" and something that was shocking and flabbergasting to the community, but cautioned that even a dog which wouldn't hurt a flea has to be watched carefully with young children.

"Often times when a baby cries, they don't understand why they are crying, but they want to fix it," Hatter told ZT Pet News previously. "So if you keep an eye on them then you can make sure there is correct interaction.

"Just like you would introduce another dog to another dog, but you want to keep that reinforcement, and never let them get into a situation where it crosses the line -- and if you keep a watchful eye, then you can correct it before something happens."

Robin Wallace is the editor for Zootoo Pet News and can be reached at rwallace@zootoo.com.

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