5-Year-Old Girl Critically Injured In Dog Attack; 2 Dogs Euthanized
WALDORF, Md. (AP) -- The family of a 5-year-old girl who was injured Wednesday after she wandered into the backyard of her home in the Waldorf area and was attacked by dogs says they expect her to face an extended recovery.
The family, who identified the girl only as Savanna, issued a statement Thursday night through Children's National Medical Center in Washington. Savanna was flown there after the attack.
Charles County Sheriff's officials were called to the home about 6 p.m. Wednesday. Spokeswoman Diane Richardson said the dogs had ripped the clothes off the girl's body, and she was suffering from dog bites, lacerations and other injuries to her face, neck and body.
Deputies said the girl was at the home with her mother's boyfriend, who found the girl outside and unconscious. Police said two dogs -- an English bulldog and a Presa Canario -- were near the girl. A third dog was found locked inside a kennel in the backyard.
The girl's family said in the statement that the dogs were not owned by the family.
Deputies are uncertain if the girl let the dogs out or they were already out.
The two dogs found near the girl were euthanized.
Savanna was in serious condition Thursday night, the family said. Relatives are working with the Charles County Sheriff's Department to investigate the circumstances of the attack.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
