Dog Chew With a Difference

.

A paralyzed Lexington man was rushed to the hospital Tuesday after he woke to find his dog had chewed off parts of his toes, police said.

The man woke about 9 a.m. at his home on the 1400 block of Bryan Avenue to find that his pit bull pup had "chewed off four tips of his toes," Lexington police Lt. Mario Russo said.

The man was identified by a friend as Terry Smith. He was taken to St. Joseph Hospital.

Lexington Animal Control took the dog, China, into quarantine.

Smith may be allowed to take China into quarantine at his home, animal control Chief Nathan Bowling said.

"The animal appears to be in great health, and we have no reason to believe there's any kind of abuse," Bowling said.

Tim Cantrell, who said he is temporarily staying at Smith's home, said he saw the blood on his friend's bed Tuesday morning.

"I realized upon closer inspection that his toes were no longer on his feet," Cantrell said.more