Family Dog Savages 8-Year-Old Girl's Face, Victim's Mother Charged With Child Abuse

A woman from Springville, Utah, was charged with child abuse Wednesday after her eight-year-old daughter was viciously attacked by her pet dog.

According to the probable statement, 26-year-old Kayla Ann Price’s daughter suffered serious injuries after she was mauled by the pit bull on June 13 this year. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where the girl received stitched to her face.

“The victim — an 8-year-old girl — was bitten by the family pit bull. She was taken to the hospital where she received 27 stitches on her cheek, on her chin, and around her eye. The injuries have left scarring and possible permanent damage to the tear ducts,” the statement said.

Local reports said this was not the first time the victim was attacked by the pit bull.

“This is at least the second time that the dog has bitten a victim on the face. The dog has bit other children in the past as well, yet the defendant insists on bringing the dog back into the family home,” the statement said.

On Wednesday, the woman was charged with child abuse — infliction of serious physical injury recklessly, a third-degree felony. She was also charged with allowing a vicious animal to go at large, a class B misdemeanor.

Several cases of dogs attacking children have been reported in the state this year. In March, a four-year-old boy lost his right hand and most of his forearm after he was savaged by a husky. Officials said the boy was attempting to play with his neighbor’s dog when the canine attacked him. He was flown to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. Officials believe the dog must have consumed the boy’s hand.