TEXAS -- A Labrador mix bit a young girl as she was being pushed in a stroller by her mother, and animal services officials told KTXS the animal was not on a leash.
"It was very scary. I keep replaying it," said Sandra Summerford. "What I could have done different? But there isn't anything. It's not up to me that their dog is out."
Summerford showed KTXS some shocking pictures of her 2-year-old Tabitha that taken shortly after she was bit in the face Saturday.
Her family said plastic surgeons had to reattach a portion of the girl's nose.
Summerford was walking down the street with her daughter when a dog broke out of his garage.
The dog wasn't on a leash, and Summerford said Abilene Animal Services didn't immediately pick up the dog after the attack.
"I just assumed they were going to do their job, and finding out nothing's being done is heart-wrenching," said Summerford.
However, animal services records show a different story.
"I'm sure we took very swift action, knowing he got impounded and quarantined," said Aaron Vannoy, the manager of Abilene's Animal Services.
Records show that about an hour after the attack, the dog was taken by animal services to a vet where he was quarantined for the mandatory 10-day rabies observation.
Tabitha's mom told KTXS that the damage has already been done.
"If Tabitha has a scar that can't be fixed, it's a permanent reminder," Summerford said.
A dangerous dog investigation has also been started, which means the owners could face steep penalties if it's determined he's a liability.
Tabitha and her mom were walking with their dog the day of the attack, which is what could have escalated the situation.
That will also be considered in the dangerous dog investigation.
(KTXS - Nov 21, 2011)
