Durham family surrenders pitbull mix after mother, sons bitten inside home
A Durham family is recovering after their dog attacked them inside their Main Street home early Thursday morning .
Around 3 a.m., the pitbull mix reportedly became aggressive after being startled by a noise outside, according to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.
The dog was in a bedroom with a woman when her adult son came in and the dog bit him on the legs and arms, the Sheriff’s Office reported in a news release.
When his mother intervened, the dog bit her.
A younger son was also bitten during the attack.
All three victims were able to barricade themselves in the bedroom to wait for emergency responders.
The Durham Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Services responded , securing the dog, which the owner surrendered to the county.
The Sheriff’s Office has not revealed the family members’ names or medical status.
Under local and state law, Animal Services will conduct a Dangerous Dog Investigation to assess the severity of their injuries and if the attack was unprovoked.
A “Dangerous” or “Potentially Dangerous” finding can result in strict lifelong confinement requirements, mandatory liability insurance, or humane euthanasia if the animal is deemed a persistent threat to public safety.
The dog is being held at the Animal Protection Society (APS) of Durham shelter. The dog’s fate will be decided once the investigation concludes.
This story was originally published January 9, 2026 at 7:49 AM.