By David Eck
Enquirer Contributor

CARTHAGE - Officials at the Cincinnati SPCA said Monday they will await the outcome of a court case to determine what will happen to a dog that attacked a 10-year-old boy.

A pit bull terrier mix, belonging to Rhonda Byrd of Elmwood Place, peers from its cage at the SPCA Cincinnati Monday. (Enquirer photo/GARY LANDERS)

The dog, a pit bull mixed breed, will remain quarantined until a judge decides whether the dog will be returned to its owner or be turned over to the animal shelter, where it would be destroyed, said SPCA Cincinnati Sgt. Todd Manser.

Daniel Foster suffered bites on his nose, head, stomach and arms when the dog attacked him on 65th Street, at the border of Cincinnati and Elmwood Place. He was released from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on Sunday evening.

Family members say Daniel and another boy were playing outside when the dog jumped a fence and attacked Daniel about 3:50 p.m. Saturday. The other boy called 911.

The dog's owner, Rhonda Byrd, 33, of Elmwood Place, was ticketed with three misdemeanor citations.

Byrd will face the charges - failing to license the dog, failing to confine a vicious dog and failing to maintain $100,000 liability insurance - during an Aug. 13 court hearing in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

SPCA officials refused a request by Byrd to see her dog Monday afternoon.

Under Ohio law, the dog should have been confined in a locked cage with a secure top while outside, Manser said.

Manser said Byrd told him that Daniel aggravating the dog.

"Regardless, the kid got bit pretty hard,'' Manser said. "Anytime a kid's bitten, it's not a happy story."

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E-mail daveck@fuse.net