A father shot dead his family dog after the animal bit off his son’s finger.
Luis Brignoni then cut open the Malamute-wolf’s stomach to retrieve the digit, WSTP reported.
Though son Fernando was rushed to a Florida hospital, doctors were unable to reattach the pinky finger.
The 11-year-old had stuck his finger into Sassy’s cage when the accident occurred.
His 13-year-old brother struck the dog with a stick in an attempt to force it to let go.
Brignoni later told the Bradenton Herald: “You don’t know what you will do for your child. You don’t know where you get the strength from.”
Speaking to Bay News 9, he added: “To me it wasn’t only losing my son’s finger, it was also basically losing a family member. And it was just really tough.
Luis Brignoni shot and killed the family dog Sassy, a Malamute-wolf cross (file picture)
A sheriff’s report seen by the Huffington Post said the dog had already been cut open when authorities arrived at the scene.
Brignoni is said to have handed the severed finger to medics, informing them his son had also suffered a broken arm.
Fernando is due to be released from hospital shortly.
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