Okalahoma nine-year-old girl sustains permanent nerve damage after being mauled by three dogs who escaped from animal shelter
A nine-year-old girl was brutally mauled by three dogs while she was riding a bicycle near her home in rural Oklahoma. The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sustained critical injuries in Tuesday's disturbing attack, KFOR reports.
The three dogs -- two foster animals and one pet -- had escaped from a nearby animal shelter and are slated to be put down after being released from a state-mandated quarantine. Speaking to KFOR, Pottawatomie County Sheriff Mike Booth said that responding deputies in Wanette found the victim covered in a blanket and being cradled in her mother's arms. They couldn't believe their eyes when they lifted the blanket. Her body was full of savage bite marks and cuts from the attack.
The girl's legs and arms are seen in photos taken after the mauling covered in blood, with chunks of flesh and skin missing. "Just from the injuries, you know the pain that she’s in and the pain that the family’s in," Booth said.
Speaking to authorities, the child revealed she was riding her bicycle and had stopped to collect some rocks when three dogs from the Forgotten Treasures Animal Rescue appeared out of nowhere and attacked her. The young girl was rushed to hospital and received a series of stitches, with investigators saying she may have sustained permanent nerve damage.
According to the sheriff, the owners of the recently opened shelter in Wanette had been thoroughly cooperative and furnished records showing all three dogs were given rabies shots. In a statement released on Friday on Facebook, the shelter said one of the canines involved in the attack was a volunteer's personal pet, while the other two were foster dogs. "We at Forgotten Treasures are devastated that this happened. None of the dogs involved have ever shown signs of aggression, and the dogs broke out of their pen when no one was home," the post read.
They proceeded to say that all three dogs will complete mandatory quarantine before being "humanely euthanized."
"Our prayers are with this child and her family. While we understand the outrage you are feeling, please refrain from placing blame," the statement continued. "To our knowledge, this child did nothing to provoke this attack. The rescue could not have reasonably foreseen the animals would escape or attack. It is a horrific tragedy. Please pray for all involved."
Meanwhile, the sheriff said he intends to file charges with the district attorney, who will later decide whether to prosecute the case.