01:25 PM PST on Thursday, December 2, 2004

By ELISA HAHN / KING 5 News

WAPATO, Wash. – Plastic surgeons at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center say it's the worst dog attack case they've ever seen.

The fact that Jose Basilio can even move his right hand is a miracle. His injuries still bring his mother, Leticia Esparza, to tears.

"It's hard, but thank god he's getting better, a lot better," she said.

KING

Dogs jumped over a fence and attacked Jose.

A month ago, 4-year-old Jose from the Yakima Valley was playing in his grandmother's yard in Wapato, Wash., when a pack of dogs jumped over the fence and attacked him.

His mother found him on the ground with the dogs on top of him. The dogs had ripped off his clothes and were literally eating his arm.

His mother says they looked like they were playing tug of war.

"Had she not chased them away at that time, the dogs could have eaten off that arm," said plastic surgeon Dr. Loren Engrav, who showed KING 5 pictures of Jose – some too graphic to be shown.

The little boy had almost 60 puncture wounds and chunks of tissue missing from his arm.

Doctors have used synthetic skin called Integra to help graft Jose's wounds.

The city of Wapato has been dealing with a growing problem – packs of unfed, unleashed and unchecked dogs attacking children and killing livestock.

"These dogs are accounted for, we know who they belong to," said one police officer.

"Even that dog that attacked him. His own owner doesn't take care of him," said Leticia Esparza.

Doctors wonder about Jose's mental state, but said Jose has been interacting well with aid dogs that come through the hospital. Doctors are amazed that he's willing to pet them.

They should know later this week if those skin grafts will take.

Problems with roaming dogs in the Yakima Valley has gotten so bad, the county health district has decided to take on the issue.