Authorities say a grand jury will decide whether charges will befiled following a pit bull attack on a six-year-old Lincoln Countyboy.

“The case has been made and turned over to the DistrictAttorney’s office,” said Lincoln County Sheriff’s Departmentinvestigator Lance Falvey Tuesday. “We’ll let the grand jury decideif there will be any charges.”

The grand jury is scheduled to convene Aug. 5.

In the incident that happened Saturday around 8:36 p.m. at amobile home park on Gleason Loop, six-year-old Anfernee Clair, ofLot 38 1236 Gleason Loop, was attacked by a neighbor’s pit bulldogthat had broken away from its chain, authorities said. The childlost part of his left ear and was bitten on both arms and his upperbody, but the injuries were not life-threatening, Falvey said.

According to the department’s report, the boy and his brotherwere going to a neighbor’s home to retrieve a bat when the incidenthappened at Lot 37 in front of the home of dog owners Bo and SandraMcDaniel. After being alerted to the attack, Bo McDaniel pulled thedog off the boy, and the youngster was taken to the hospital by hismother, Sonya Clair.

The report said authorities were told the boy and other childrenwere throwing rocks at the dog earlier Saturday. The report alsomentions an earlier incident in which the dog had bitten a child,although a time and date for that was not cited.

Since the Saturday incident, Falvey said the dog is being keptinside at another residence and is being monitored for signs ofrabies.

“We have determined the dog has not had a rabies shot,” Falveysaid. “He has not exhibited any rabid behavior.”

Also, Falvey said authorities were called to Gleason Loop threetimes Monday to respond to disturbances between the partiesinvolved in the dog incident. He said emotions tend to run highwhen children are involved.

“Things had gotten heated. Words had been said and things hadgotten out of hand,” Falvey said.

Falvey said no arrests were made in connection with thedisturbances and there had been on further incidents as of Tuesdayafternoon.

“We’re hoping that cooler heads will prevail,” he said.

Falvey speculated that quick action by Bo McDaniel likely savedthe boy’s life in the Saturday attack. He said the dog owners weresympathetic and sorry that the attack happened.

“They are aware that they’re responsible for the child’s medicalbills,” Falvey said.