Dog bites off hand of Utah boy trying to play with animal

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A dog bit off the hand of a 4-year-old Utah boy after he stuck his arm underneath a fence to try to play with the animal, authorities said Monday.

The boy had a sock on his arm when he put it in a gap between the ground and a solid vinyl fence in his backyard Sunday, Layton Fire Battalion Chief Jason Cook said. The husky bit off the boy's entire hand and 2 to 3 inches of his arm, Cook said.

The boy's father tried to limit the bleeding and comfort his son until emergency workers arrived. A helicopter flew the boy to a hospital in Salt Lake City, where he had surgery, Cook said. He's doing well and is expected to survive, officials said.