Bikers Helping Boy Mauled by Pit Bull

Off the Wire News - MCs in the News RONNIE DAHL

CHESTERFIELD TWP., Mich. - The medical bills are mounting for the family of a little boy mauled by a pit bull. They never expected help to come from a group of bikers.

"I don't like pit bulls, but I like dogs," said Dylan Brandimarte.

Dylan is only 5 years old and has already experienced tragedy. He was playing with his grandfather's pit bull, Jewel, when out of nowhere family members tell us the dog attacked, grabbing hold of Dylan's precious face.

"There was over a hundred stitches between his cheek, inside of his nose, and then they had tape on some of them and super glue on some... It was pretty gruesome," said Christopher Brandimarte, Dylan's father.

The accident happened November eighth. The dog was put down immediately, but it will take Dylan a long time to recover from his facial wounds.

The family has insurance, but the $3,000 deductible for reconstructive surgery is a lot of money for the laid off father. Financial support is coming from an unusual source -- The Vigilantes.

"We've got kids. (We've) got nieces and nephews and grand kids, and... what if that was your kid that was hurt. So... we'll do anything in the community, especially for children," said "Bam Bam" with the Vigilante Motorcycle Club.

Dylan has a book of well wishes from his classmates and the hearts of an entire motorcycle club to help get him through his next round of painful surgery.

"After the stitches and stuff, we went and (saw) a plastic surgeon, and said we got to wait... three to six months for it to heal completely before they can do any reconstructive surgery because the inside of his nose wasn't sewed up (properly). So, he doesn't have proper... nasal passage through there," Christopher Brandimarte said.

The Vigilantes will be holding a benefit in Detroit Saturday night to try to raise as much money as possible for little Dylan. It begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Vigilante's Clubhouse, 9311 Gratiot (southwest corner of I-94 and Gratiot).

Original article...

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/bikers-helping-boy-mauled-by-pit-bull