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When Corey Widen let her eight-year-old daughter take the family dog for a short stroll alone, she probably never expected it to cause an uproar.

The 48-year-old mother from Wilmette, Ill., a Chicago suburb, told “Good Morning America” on Friday she thought it was important to start giving her young daughter, Dorothy, a little more independence. Plus, she told the Chicago Tribune, it was all part of the deal; when her children wanted to get a dog, she agreed on one condition – everyone had to share the responsibilities, including walking it.

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tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Eight-year-old girl takes her dog for a walk. Neighbour calls police, then child welfare officials Back to video

As Dorothy was out doing just that earlier this month, a neighbor called the authorities. Police and child welfare officials said the caller, who was not publicly identified, reported there was a child – maybe five years old – walking a dog all alone.

Wilmette police responded to the home, and Illinois’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) launched an investigation into the incident, according to CBS affiliate WBBM. Although no charges were filed and the investigation was later dropped, Widen told “Good Morning America” the ordeal was traumatizing for her children.