Child has surgery to reattach ear, over 200 stitches in face

By TONIE MARRIOTT - Register Staff Writer

A Mt. Carmel toddler, Branson Goodman, 2, had just woken up Saturday morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. and walked into the kitchen of the family home in Cherry Street Estates when the tragedy occurred, his grandmother Patty Lindsey told the Register late Monday afternoon.

"He just walked into the kitchen when he woke up and the dog attacked him for no reason," said Lindsey. "And bit him three times."

The dog in question is a four-year-old Golden Retriever that the family has only had for approximately two weeks, according to Lindsey. She explained that her daughter, Brandy Goodman, had acquired the dog while at a veterinarian's office in Albion.

"She (Brandy) was talking with a man at the vet clinic who had the Golden Retriever with him. She said she would like to have a dog like that," said Lindsey. "The man explained that he needed to get rid of the dog because his wife was expecting a baby."

Goodman took the dog home with her.

Following the attack Saturday morning, Branson had to be taken to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind., by a LifeFlight helicopter, said Lindsey. He had to undergo surgery to reattach his ear, which was severed almost entirely, she said, and was only connected a little bit at the very top and bottom.

"It wasn't attached at the back at all," said Lindsey.

In addition to suffering the bite trauma to his ear, Branson was also bitten in the face and had to receive over 200 stitches to that area. Lindsey said that doctors have told the family that he may have permanent nerve damage on the right side of his face.

Branson is still hospitalized in Evansville, and the dog was taken by Wabash County Animal Control Officer Chuck Skidmore.

Skidmore said the dog will be put to sleep.