WEYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) - Massachusetts animal control officials say a skunk that attacked a 2-year-old girl in her grandmother’s backyard has tested positive for rabies.

The child’s grandmother, Betty Bennette, says the skunk latched onto her granddaughter Fatima’s leg near the back door of her Weymouth duplex on Monday night.

The girl’s mother picked up the girl and tried to shake the animal off.

Fatima had scratches on her hands and leg, as well as a bite on her leg. She was taken to the hospital where she is was given the first dose of rabies prevention treatment.

A firefighter who responded to the scene killed the skunk with a shovel.

The dead skunk was sent to a state lab that confirmed rabies on Tuesday.

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