[Later stories clarify that the main attacking dog is an American Bulldog, but that the other two dogs which were also involved are a Pit Bull and a Boxer.]
In the end, a Griffin police officer had to shoot and kill the dog.
Investigators are still trying to determine what prompted the family pet to attack the child. But some witnesses said the dog attacked the girl when she attempted to break up a fight between the Pit bull and two other dogs.
So far, investigators have not been able to confirm this.
It happened Wednesday afternoon at 1316 Ruth St. Neighbors told CBS Atlanta News that the attack happened when the girl was trying to break up a fight among three dogs.
The neighbors ran toward the home when they heard the child yelling for help in the fenced-in yard. When they arrived, they saw Lily Goodson covered in blood.
"All three of the dogs were on her," neighbor Nicholas White told the news station. "I had a pipe in my hand. I ran around and started kicking the fence to get their attention."
Lilly's grandmother jumped on top of her granddaughter to try to shield her from the dogs.
When Cpl. Stan Phillips arrived at 2:41 p.m., she was attempting to pull the pit bull off her granddaughter, police spokesman Capt. Dwayne Jones said.
"I got a piece of wood and tried to hit him with the wood, but he wouldn't stop," neighbor Mr. Dwayne Warner told the news station.
Cpl. Stan Phillips attempted to pull the dog off Lilly, but the Pit bull had latched on to her face and refused to let go, Capt. Jones said. Cpl. Phillips was forced to shoot and kill the dog.
Lily was taken by helicopter to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston where she underwent surgery overnight, the captain said.
The child's grandmother, Ms. Kathy Goodson, 53, was treated by paramedics at the scene for minor bite wounds.
Police said she has remained at her granddaughter's side in the hospital's pediatric care unit.
The dog's body was taken to the Spalding County Animal shelter where he will be tested for rabies, Capt. Jones said.
The two other dogs involved in the attack also were taken to the Spalding County Animal Shelter. Neighbors said one was a pit bull and other was a boxer.
(Examiner.com - Dec 6, 2012)
