Tracy Moore and her 4-year-old son, Roland Moore, were standing outside waiting for the shcool bus when two seemingly friendly dogs approached them - but things soon took a dark turn
02:05, 13 Dec 2025
A 4-year-old boy was force to have his ear amputated after a horrific dog attack left him in hospital for a week.
On November 20 Tracy Moore and her 4-year-old son, Roland Moore, were standing outside waiting for the shcool bus when two seemingly friendly dogs approached them, according to an incident report filed by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and obtained by PEOPLE.
The mother and son then began petting the dogs, before they "suddenly" attacked her son, biting his left ear. The officer who responded to the scene reported that the boy's ear was "hanging from the side of his head," per the report.
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A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Roland's family cover legal fees, medical expenses, and child therapy, giving Roland the care and justice he deserves.
A message on the page reads: "On November 20th, 2025, our lives changed in an instant. While waiting for the school bus with my Allison, two dogs approached us in our driveway. At first, they seemed friendly, but when my son Roland stepped out to give me a hug, everything shifted.
"The dogs pounced on him, and in the chaos, he fell and began to cry. My son and I rushed to get him to safety, but the dogs became aggressive. In the struggle, I shielded Roland with my body, but one of the dogs latched onto his left ear and temple.
"The injury was devastating—his ear was left hanging to his shoulder. We spent a week in the hospital, enduring every possible treatment, including leech therapy, to try to save his ear. It was heartbreaking to see Roland in so much pain, terrified and facing the possibility of losing a part of himself.
"Despite the doctors' best efforts, his ear had to be amputated the day before Thanksgiving. We returned home on Thanksgiving, forever changed. Roland is now unable to receive a prosthetic until he is six years old, which is still two years away. The trauma has affected him deeply—he suffers from night terrors, panic attacks, and a fear of dogs, even our own."
It concluded: "We are reaching out for help because we want to give Roland the best chance at recovery—physically, emotionally, and legally. Your support will help us cover legal fees, medical expenses, and child therapy, giving Roland the care and justice he deserves. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference for our family. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time."
The Mirror has contacted Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for comment.
You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.