Prognosis 'optimistic' for girl mauled by pit bull

Shawn D. Lewis | The Detroit News

Detroit – A 10-year-old girl remains in "very critical" condition on Monday after being attacked by a dog in the 10700 block of Beaconsfield on Detroit’s east side, police said.

Officer Jennifer Moreno, a Detroit Police Department spokeswoman, said on Sunday that "it's looking optimistic" for the girl because doctors were able to reattach the girl's arm, and are monitoring an infection. While there was initially a belief that the girl might lose her foot, it did not need to be amputated.

Detroit police said the attack occurred at 1:15 p.m. Saturday at her aunt's house.

Police said the child was playing in the back yard when a pit bull left the house, and viciously attacked her. The child’s 55-year-old aunt intervened in an attempt to stop the attack, but the dog then turned on her, wounding her leg. She was hospitalized but has since been released.

The dog is at Detroit Animal Control & Care, which will decide on its future. Animal control did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the dog's future on Monday.

The victim is a fifth-grader at Detroit Public Schools Community District's Carleton Elementary School. Grief counselors have been sent to the school for any students who need to see one, said district spokeswoman Chrystal Wilson, and the girl will be acknowledged at the school's fifth-grade promotion ceremony on Tuesday.

No arrests have been made.

slewis@detroitnews.com

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