CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SANTA ROSA : Boy Mauled by Family Pit Bull

A 2-year-old boy severely mauled by his family’s pit bulldog in his back yard was upgraded from critical to serious condition Friday after he underwent five hours of surgery. Lake County Sheriff’s Capt. Glen Perkins said the Middletown boy, Scott Herrin, had wandered into the yard and was attacked by the dog. His mother, Athena, ran out from the kitchen and shot and killed the dog. The boy was given emergency treatment by South Lake County firefighters and flown by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in extremely critical condition. He underwent surgery Thursday night for numerous bites and cuts on his face and upper torso.