A family in Texas is calling for justice after a violent incident in which a neighbour's dog allegedly forced its way into their home and brutally attacked their three-year-old son, leaving the toddler with serious injuries.
A Routine Evening Turns to Horror
On the evening of November 18, Valeria Capetillo was at home in the Houston Metropolitan Area with her family when she heard a dog scratching at the front door. According to her husband, Alex Capetillo, Valeria went to investigate and slightly opened the door, snapping a photograph of the animal to post on Facebook in an attempt to locate its owner.
The situation escalated rapidly when the couple's young son expressed a desire to see the dog. As he approached, the animal allegedly pushed past the partially open door and Valeria, charging directly at the toddler.
Severe Injuries and a Father's Intervention
The dog is said to have bitten the little boy on his face. Alex Capetillo detailed the extensive injuries his son sustained, which included: a fractured left orbital bone, lacerations to his inner eyelid, right eyebrow, and right cheek, a bite on his neck, and the traumatic loss of two teeth.
"It just happened so fast, and I couldn’t try to stop the dog," Valeria told local news outlet KPRC. "I put my leg so he could bite me instead, but he just went after him." Alex, who was in the living room, rushed to intervene, choking the dog until it released his son before throwing the animal outside.
Frustration with the Owner and Official Response
While the parents rushed their son to hospital, police investigated. Ring doorbell footage reportedly showed the dog lingering in the front yard afterwards. Harris County Public Health dispatched an animal control officer the next morning.
The officer attempted to contact the identified dog owner, Jermaine Armstrong, leaving notices about a mandatory rabies quarantine. Armstrong brought the dog for an initial evaluation on November 20, but was later issued citations for failing to comply with a required ten-day quarantine at a private veterinary clinic.
In the weeks following the attack, Alex has publicly expressed his frustration with Armstrong on social media. He posted screenshots of text conversations, accusing his neighbour of reneging on a promise to have the dog euthanised and of pretending not to be home when animal control officers called. Armstrong, a truck driver who said he was on the road at the time, has admitted the dog in the photo is his pet but has not accepted responsibility for the incident, calling it an "allegation."
The Capetillo family has been informed on how to request a dangerous dog determination from the county, which could compel Armstrong to carry insurance, post warning signs, and fit the dog with a special collar. Harris County Public Health confirmed to the Daily Mail that the dog was seized from its owner on December 2 and is now in the custody of Harris County Pets.
"HELP ME! Justice has to be served for my little boy!" Alex wrote in a desperate Facebook plea, warning others on his street to be cautious.
