A 6-year-old Delhi boy is recovering from wounds he suffered during a pit bull attack.

The child sustained bites to his head, neck and arm, said Merced County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie.

The attack was reported around 4 p.m. Nov. 10. The caller told the sheriff’s department a pit bull had turned on a young child and caused serious injuries at a home in the 16000 block of Corner Street in Delhi.

Deputy Preston Sanchez was the first to arrive at the scene and was told that family members had already taken the boy to Emanuel Medical Center.

The 50-plus pound grey pit bull charged the deputy before being captured, MacKenzie said.

From his investigation, Sanchez was able to learn that the boy went out back to a common area his house shares with another house and was attacked by the dog.

Family members did come out and chase the dog off as the boy lay on the ground, covering his head with his arms, MacKenzie said.

There was a white pit bull present that may or may not have joined in the attack, MacKenzie said. Family members claimed ownership of the white pit bull and animal control could not determine the dog’s involvement.

The child could not really tell if the other animal was involved in the attack, but remembers the grey pit bull, MacKenzie said.

Owners said they had never seen the grey pit bull, which had blood on its muzzle from the attack, MacKenzie said.

Animal control took the grey pit bull into custody, which will be tested for rabies then euthanized.

MacKenzie said at this time no criminal charges are expected since family members were uncooperative about who owned the grey pit bull.

The attack came just days after a 3-year-old boy in Winton was mauled by the family pit bull. Delhi was also the scene of a pit bull attack that fatally injured a 17-month old boy in 2009.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.