Benefit eases financial strain of dog attack

Thursday, April 25, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

Donations

Contributions can be made for Michael Foley's medical care at Business Bank of Nevada, 7280 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, 89128-8301, Acct. 0003205444.

The nightmares are gone, and Michael now has the energy to play baseball.

"The wounds are healing really well," Michael said.

Michael survived a bizarre dog attack in January, suffered as he was feeding his neighbor's four Great Danes. The dogs, whom he had known and cared for, turned on him, viciously attacking him.

Michael was bitten all over his body and went through emergency treatment and a hospital stay.

But there is still work to be done. Michael, 12, needs dental work to replace five teeth knocked out in the struggle, laser surgery on the deepest scars and plastic surgery.

So his parents, both gospel musicians, decided to hold a benefit Wednesday night to raise money for the upcoming medical work.

The soft-spoken sixth grade student listened as his mother, Denise Clemente Foley, and dad, Chuck Foley, warmed up for a rousing evening of gospel music at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship on Eldora Avenue.

Denise sang gospel songs from her new CD, "Just Say Jesus," and credited her faith for pulling her through Michael's ordeal during the anxious hours after the attack.

The concert, which packed the church, raised $4,000, Denise said.

"When I saw him at first, I never thought he would look this good," she said after the concert. "All I care about is him getting better."

Michael no longer limps and his energy is returning for schoolwork and sports, she said.

The boy was taking care of his neighbor's four Great Danes, a 7-year-old former champion show dog and three 18-month-old dogs in training, the afternoon of Jan. 23 when the animals attacked.

Michael's father, Chuck, heard his son's screams and scared off the dogs, two 140-pound males and two 110-pound females.

Michael was flown by helicopter to University Medical Center from his rural neighborhood off U.S. 95 near the turnoff to Mount Charleston.

After undergoing emergency surgery, he spent 19 days at UMC recovering from bite wounds on his head, neck and torso.

The dogs have been euthanized.

Dail Kohler, the dogs' owner, has said that she didn't know what may have caused the dogs to attack, describing Michael as "the nicest, kindest boy."

He no longer has nightmares about the attack, and when asked if he is afraid of dogs, Michael said, "Not anymore."

"He's afraid of big dogs now, not small ones," his grandmother Dora Clemente said.

"Big dogs or jumping ones," Michael added. "I learned dogs are very powerful."

The time spent recuperating kept Michael out of the classroom at Faith Lutheran School.

"There's so much to catch up on," Clemente said. In addition to returning to class, Michael is also being tutored.

"The teachers put all this stuff in a big box and said, 'Here,' " she said, gesturing as if lifting a heavy carton.

The difference in Michael is evident to the grandmother. "His spirits are way up and he's playing ball," Clemente said.

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