Toddler allegedly attacked by dogs

SEMMES, Ala. (WALA) - It's a heart-wrenching story out of Semmes. A three-year-old girl is recovering after allegedly being attacked by dogs. Family members said the girl was bitten more than 50 times. County officials have launched an investigation.

Three dogs are now quarantined at the Mobile County Animal Shelter after officials said they had an aggressive incident.

"It appeared to be dangerous dogs and they certainly inflicted injury on the young girl," Nancy Johnson with Mobile County said.

"I saw the ambulance, paramedics and police go down there," neighbor Tommy Sheffield said.

Sheffield saw the end of the tragedy off Stone Road.

"Just a heartbreaking story of a three-year-old who got viciously attacked by three dogs," Johnson added.

The little girl lives down a dirt road, which is behind the dog owner's home. Neighbors said she was outside in the front of her home playing when the attack happened.

"The dogs were from the same neighborhood. They had broken out of confinement. It was an incident and she was dragged by the dogs," Johnson said.

Johnson said the three dogs mauled the little girl. She was rushed to the trauma unit, and received more than 160 stitches.

"Our prayers are with the little girl and of course the neighbors, the owners of the dogs," Sheffield said.

Neighbors said it appeared to be a freak accident. But Johnson said the dog owner, James White, will be held responsible. Warrants have been issued for White's arrest. They're for three violations, one for each dog running at large.

"The county has reported the incident to the district attorney and he has the jurisdiction if he so desired to file petitions to declare the dogs as dangerous. In that case it would go before a judge. In the event of serious injury, and if the judge decided these dogs are dangerous, the judge could also have them humanely euthanized," Johnson said.

As these dogs face the possibility of getting put down, neighbors are just hoping the little girl pulls through and fully recovers.

She has been moved from the trauma unit of USA Medical Center and is now recovering at USA Children's and Women's Hospital.