4-year-old seriously injured in dog attack in southwest Miami-Dade

Girl airlifted to hospital

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 4-year-old girl was bitten by a dog Monday afternoon in southwest Miami-Dade County, authorities said.

The incident was reported in the area of Southwest 161st Street and Southwest 154th Court.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokeswoman Erika Benitez said the girl was severely injured and was airlifted to a hospital as a trauma alert. 

The little girl was interacting with the family's dog, a male terrier mix named Troy, when he bit her in the face, legs and thigh, Miami-Dade Animal Services spokeswoman Lilian Bohorquez said. 

The dog's owner called police, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took the girl to Kendall Regional Medical Center. 

Neighbors said they heard screaming coming from the backyard of the home where the toddler lives and ran over to help.


"You saw more blood than you saw anything else. You know what I mean?" David Fernandez said. "Like, you didn't see, like, an actual wound. You saw a puddle here, a puddle there, the dog's face all bloodied up."

Witnesses said part of the girl's cheek appeared to be hanging off.

Neighbors said Troy belongs to the victim's family. They said the family told them that they think the girl might have reached for the dog's toy when it attacked her.

Animal services was called.

Troy has been placed under quarantine in the home, where he is allowed to remain for 10 days while being monitored for irregular behavior, after which the dog must be examined by a veterinarian.

The dog's owner, however, is expected to turn the pet over to the county Tuesday, Bohorquez said. 

It's unclear whether Troy will be euthanized.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.