8-YEAR-OLD ATTACKED BY NEIGHBOR'S DOG.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

An 8-year-old boy was recovering Friday after being attacked Thursday by a neighbor's dog.

Richard Nicholson suffered 15 to 20 puncture wounds to his head, back and arms in the unprovoked attack.

``I didn't do anything to the dog,'' the Palmdale youngster said. ``He just came out and jumped on me.''

The black chow jumped out of a window and attacked the boy at 2:20 p.m. Thursday as he walked down Frontier Avenue, Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control officials said.

It was the third such attack on a child in recent days.

Gail Miley, manager of the county's Antelope Valley Animal Shelter, warned parents to keep children away from vicious dogs, especially larger animals.

``They may be the sweetest thing in the house, but the big dogs will always be dangerous,'' Miley said. ``They all have teeth, a temperament and like to bite. And when they bite, they do a lot of damage.''

Neighbor Sue Lang threw a soft drink can at the dog attacking Richard.

``I threw my can of Pepsi at him, and then it looked up and went away,'' Lang said. ``If we wouldn't have been there, the dog would have killed him.''

Earlier this week, another 8-year-old boy underwent surgery to repair his eyelid after he was bitten by a Rottweiler that also bit two men who tried to help the boy.

Denis Steights, was shooting baskets in his front yard at 8 p.m. July 11, at at the 37600 block of Citrus Ave. when the dog jumped the fence, Miley said.

``He was outside less than 10 minutes,'' said his mother, Friena Steights, 36, of Palmdale. ``Then I heard the screaming.''

Another 8-year-old Palmdale boy was attacked Wednesday as he strolled to a friend's house.

Zackary Mecier, 8, was attacked by a large dog chained to a tree in the front yard of his neighbor's home, his father Joe Barberis said.

``The dog attacked him in the driveway,'' Barberis said. Zackary was bitten in the face and required seven stitches.

The dogs have been seized and will be destroyed, Miley said. Two of the dogs have attacked before, she said.

During 1995, 600 people were bitten by dogs in Los Angeles County, including 150 in the Antelope Valley.

The Humane Society suggests that if approached by a vicious dog, people should keep quiet, avoid eye contact and remain motionless until the dog leaves. Then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.

The organization also advises against running past dogs; approaching strange dogs, especially those that are confined; and petting strange dogs.