Carson City Animal Control Officer Pat Wiggins said there wasn't much anyone could do to prevent a 5-year-old Carson City boy from being bitten by his neighbors' dog.
Wiggins, an animal control education officer, said the dog was where it was supposed to be and it had been around the child before.
"There's not much I can really say," he said. "People need to remember dogs are powerful. Even a dog playing with a child and knocking it down can cause injury. If there was any kind of fault we'd go ahead and prosecute.
"The owners said they've never seen the dog act like that and it's not a pit bull or other aggressive breed of dog."
Wiggins called the incident "an unfortunate accident."
The accident occurred in the 500 block of Mountain Street at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday when the boy was visiting neighbors.
Wiggins said the dog -- a Labrador mix about 1-1/2 years old -- was in the yard when it was let into the house where it bit the boy on the arm and leg.
State law requires the dog be quarantined for 10 days, he said.