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A 6-year-old Christy Park girl is recovering from injuries suffered during an incident with a city police dog.

Police Chief Bryan Washowich said Wednesday night the department is reviewing its dog training and handling procedures after yesterday's events, which also injured Patrolman Francis Angert and the girl's mother.

Neither the girl nor her mother were identified by police.

"At this point, it looks like it was an unfortunate accident," Washowich said.

According to Washowich, with the start of classes in McKeesport Area School District, police officers were asked to check their beats and make sure no children were missed by school buses.

Angert was on routine patrol Wednesday morning near the intersection of 30th Avenue and Rockwood Street with his K-9 partner, Nero, when he spotted the girl and her mother, who are related to Angert, according to police.

As Angert talked to the girl's mother about giving the girl a ride to school, the mother unexpectedly opened the back door of the squad car, Washowich said.

Nero interpreted the action as a threat, the chief said.

"The dog can't differentiate between a friend and a foe," Washowich said. "Unfortunately, the dog was doing what it was trained to do."

The child was bitten on the abdomen and treated at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Washowich said. The mother and Angert also were injured as they separated Nero from the girl. Angert received wounds to his hand that required stitches.

An 15-year veteran of the department, Angert received a city medal of valor last year for saving the life of a Bethel Park officer who was injured during a training exercise with Nero.

Nero and other police K-9s were among the featured attractions at International Village last month, where they put on demonstrations of skill and agility and posed for photos with visitors.

Nero is temporarily off-duty until he can be evaluated by a dog trainer, Washowich said.

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