Kim Richards has spoken out after her pit bull Kingsley bit her niece, Kyle Richards' 18-year-old daughter Alexia, on Saturday, Nov. 1.
"First off let me start by saying the safety and welfare of my family means the world to me," Kim, 50, noted in a statement on Thursday, Nov. 6. "I love Alexia like she is my own child and have been in constant contact with my sister Kyle and niece Alexia."
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star detailed what led up to the attack, explaining that she warned Alexia that her bedroom — where Kingsley was resting — was off limits.
"Alexia has been away from college for months and hasn't seen Kingsley in a long time. Kingsley is used to the home being full of children and since the kids have gone away, the house has become quiet," Kim continued. "While the two have been very close and friendly in the past, the dog has become very protective of me in the meantime. When guests are over Kingsley stays in my bedroom and has been given access to a special fenced-in area in my backyard. Anyone entering the house is made aware that the dog should not be bothered."
Indeed, when the Bravo star realized Alexia had been bit on her thumb, she "immediately" called her younger sister Kyle, 45, who then brought Alexia to the emergency room to make sure there was no infection.
"After the wound was cleaned and bandaged, the girls went on with their day and I stayed in contact to make sure that my niece was okay," Kim said on her publicist's site. "After she re-entered the hospital two days later, I have visited and continue to make sure that she is in good spirits."
Kim's spirits, however, are hardly good. Though she didn't clarify if she will put Kingsley down, she admits that she is mulling over options to see what the next step should be. "As many of you can relate, he is my best friend," she said. "This is a very difficult decision and time for all of us, but the safety of my family always comes first."
Kingsley's obedience problems and Kim's attempts to train him were largely documented on the last season of RHOBH.
