Girl, 7, attacked by dogs in St. Paul during walk with mother
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A young girl suffered significant injuries Thursday afternoon when a group of dogs allegedly attacked her in St. Paul.
The family says Sacadiya Abdulahi was walking her 7-year-old daughter Sumaya from her bus stop Thursday afternoon when they were surrounded by four to five dogs. One dog began to attack, and Sacadiya Abdulahi was able to fend it off before more dogs joined in.
The attack lasted for minutes before a neighbor scared off the dogs.
"They bit her in the face and she also got bit in the back of the head," described John Albert, who witnessed the attack.
Sumaya Abdulahi had pieces of her nose, ear, and thigh bitten off, the family says. She's back home from the hospital as of Friday and on some strong pain medication.
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St. Paul police say they're investigating a possible suspect, but no charges have been filed.
"I cannot imagine what this young girl went through last night. I can't imagine what her mother went through as her child was being attacked by these dogs," said St. Paul Public Information Officer Mike Ernster. "We want to find answers, we want to find them out for her and for this community."
The St. Paul Police say there haven't been other dog attacks in the neighborhood and that a suspect would likely face misdemeanor charges.
The family says they're raising money to pay for plastic surgery to hopefully minimize scarring. They came to the U.S. this past fall to get heart surgery for Sumaya's sister. They now want to make sure the dogs don't hurt anyone else.
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"She doesn't know if she can live here with these dogs outside," explained Abdi Ahmed, Sumaya's brother. "We want those dogs caught because they don't feel safe to go to school."
As of Friday evening, all five dogs have been turned in to St. Paul Animal Control and the owner is cooperating with law enforcement.