CALIFORNIA -- A 3-year-old girl is recovering after she was attacked by a mastiff on Easter, according to her grandmother and San Bernardino County Fire reports.
Hayleh Harger was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center on Sunday afternoon following the attack, according to the child’s grandmother, Nancy Jimenez.
Officials received a call from the home in the 14900 Joshua Street at about 2 p.m. to report the attack, according to Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the fire department.
A friend of the family had brought the dog to the child’s home, according to Jimenez, and had secured the mastiff in the backyard. The dog was only a few feet from Hayleh’s playhouse, Jimenez said, and when the child ran out to play, the dog attacked the child.
When Hayleh’s mother went outside, she found her daughter face-down and the large dog on top of the small girl. Her mother was able to beat the dog off the girl and pull her to safety, Jimenez said.
The child suffered cuts to her face and required 100 stitches to close up the damage done by the dog.
As of Tuesday, it wasn’t clear if the dog was quarantined or held by Victorville Animal Control.
The girl is expected to recover, though Jimenez said her granddaughter may require plastic surgery to repair her lip.
(Victorville Daily Press - April 10, 2012)
