Investigators aren't sure why a family dog turned on a little boy, seriously injuring him.
According to Captain Michael Hodges with the Sevier County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to a home on Kentwood Drive around 8:30 pm on Wednesday.
Family members told officers that the 11-year-old rottweiler attacked the 4-year-old boy in the yard. It took both the mother and grandfather to pull the dog off the boy.
The child was taken by Lifestar helicopter to UT Medical Center. He had serious facial lacerations and had to undergo surgery. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The family gave up the dog to animal control officers. They said they had raised the dog since it was 6 weeks old. It was euthanized Thursday morning.
No charges are expected in this incident. There were no previous incidents with the dog and it was up to date on all of its shots.