SAGINAW, Mich. -- According to Flint Police a 36-year-old Flint man is expected to be charged Thursday with child abuse or assault after allegedly setting his pit bull on three children walking by his house on Myrtle Avenue Wednesday evening.

Two teen girls were walking with a 4-year-old boy when the dog’s owner overheard one of them call the dog a “ho.”

The pit bull was behind a fence but the man allegedly let the dog out after hearing the derogatory name.

The girls were able to get away from the dog but the boy was not fast enough and was bitten in the rear by the animal.

He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Animal control was expected to pick the dog up on Thursday.