Kathy Goodson says her 5-year-old granddaughter, Lily, was playing in her backyard on Wednesday when she was attacked by her family's three dogs.
Goodson said tried to fight the dogs off of the girl, shielding Lily with her own body.
"I was yelling, ‘Can somebody please help me, he's killing my granddaughter. Somebody please come help me,'" said Goodson.
She said that Merlin, the family's American bulldog, latched onto the little girl and tore at her face.
"He was ripping her up. I grabbed her head, and I shoved her head as far under my chest as I could get her. And he would go under my arm, and he would get her," Goodson said.
Just when Goodson thought she couldn't hang on anymore, a responding police officer shot and killed the dog.
"I just grabbed her, and I picked her up, and I just had -- I wanted her to talk. I didn't know if she was -- I didn't know if my baby was dead," Goodson said.
Lily lost an ear and suffered severe facial injuries in the attack, her grandmother said. Goodson says the Shriners have reached out to the family, arranging for the child to undergo reconstructive surgery at their medical facility in Cincinnati.
The grandmother said that she can't imagine why the dogs attacked. While police identified a pit bull as the main aggressor, Goodson says the Merlin – an American bulldog -- was the dog that latched on to the girl.
"A dog that we've loved for eight years, this is our family dog. Lily was Merlin's heart," said Goodson.
Goodson it's a miracle that her granddaughter is still alive. She said that the child is being sedated and she's not sure how long she'll be hospitalized in Atlanta before being transferred to Shriners.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:31 AM EDT2013-05-23 12:31:23 GMT
Later today, Georgia State Rep. Tyrone Brooks is expected to speak publicly about his recent arrest on fraud and tax charges. Brooks was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday.
Later today, Georgia State Rep. Tyrone Brooks is expected to speak publicly about his recent arrest on fraud and tax charges. Brooks was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:32:32 GMT
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It's also a great time to thank veterans for their service to our country—veterans just like World War II American hero Lew Fern.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:56 AM EDT2013-05-23 04:56:30 GMT
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:55:59 GMT
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home.
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home. Just one day later, some of her family members were in Oklahoma near where the tornado hit.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:50 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:50:14 GMT
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground.
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground. Both victims are 6-year-old boys who are in kindergarten at Rocky Plains Elementary School, where the attack happened.
Lily, 5, was injured in a dog attack.
