Visiting Police Dog Bites Indiana Student at School

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on February 06, 2006

The incident followed an in-class demonstration on drug detection activities conducted by police officer Mike Isom, who brought his patrol dog Condor along. The 11-year-old girl, Courtney McGarry, was petting the dog when something startled the dog and caused him to bite Courtney on the cheek.

The young girl received immediate medical treatment from the school nurse before being transferred to Floyd Memorial hospital for further care. It is reported that Courtney's parents also sought help from an unidentified plastic surgeon in Louisville, Kentucky.

A spokesperson for the school district says that many different police dogs have been brought to area schools over the years, but that an accident of this sort had never occurred.

Courtney's mother, Michelle McGarry, has stated that she is thinking about suing both the New Albany-Floyd County school system and the city of New Albany; though the city's police chief has offered to pay Courtney's medical bills, Mrs. McGarry is concerned about the long-term cost of Courtney's psychological health.

The dog, Condor, is currently being held in quarantine and will most likely return to work if found healthy.

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