MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 7-year-old girl who was bitten by a dog outside her home in southwest Miami-Dade County has been released from the hospital.
Miami-Dade Animal Services spokeswoman Lilian Bohorquez said the dog, an 8-year-old bull terrier named Macho, belonged to a member of the girl's family. Animal Services said the dog will not be allowed to leave the owner's home while it investigates.
Miami-Dade Police said the dog bit the girl on the face as she played in her yard about 4 p.m. Tuesday in the 5000 block of Southwest 99th Avenue. The girl was taken by ambulance to Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami for treatment.
The girl returned home Wednesday afternoon covered in a blanket. After she was carried inside, a man spoke to reporters gathered outside the house and downplayed the girl's injuries.
"She only got like 3 stitches ... Something small dude. You guys are ridiculous," he said. "It's literally a small bite."
James Young, who lives in the neighborhood, was nearby when the incident took place Tuesday.
"The little girl screamed, the dog barked and made a growling noise, and then the little girl screamed again. I mean loud," Young said. "And then, like 10 minutes later, Fire Rescue came. They put bandages on her and they actually took her out of the yard and closed the gate to get away from the dog because it was still running loose."