A woman and a girl are recovering after being attacked by three dogs last week in Hillsdale County, Michigan State Police said.
Officials said the incident remains under investigation, and the three dogs involved were returned to their owner.
Troopers from the Jackson Post were called at about 9 p.m. on Friday to a location in the 1400 block of Mosherville Road in Scipio Township for a report of a dog attack, authorities said.
According to a preliminary investigation, a 12-year-old girl and her 13-year-old friend were riding scooters in their neighborhood on Mosherville Road when they saw three dogs in a home’s front yard. Officials said it appears the three mixed-breed pit bull/mastiff dogs escaped from their kennel.
Police said the 12-year-old told them that the dogs suddenly ran toward her. She said she jumped off her scooter, but the dogs knocked her to the ground and began attacking her, they said. Her friend ran to get help, according to detectives.
Authorities said a 31-year-old woman heard the girls screaming and ran to help. They said she tried to pull the dogs off the girl, but the dogs turned and attacked her.
Officials said the owner of the dogs intervened and pulled the animals away from the woman. They also said the owner stayed with the woman until medics arrived. Meanwhile, the dog owner’s son secured the pets in their kennel.
Investigators said both the girl and woman suffered severe lacerations, but were conscious and alert when troopers arrived.
Police said the injured 12-year-old’s mother arrived and took her home to wait for an ambulance. She was airlifted to a hospital and later transferred to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, according to state police.
Meanwhile, the wounded woman was also taken to a hospital, officials said.
Troopers said they returned the three dogs to their owner, a 44-year-old woman, pending the outcome of the investigation. They said their findings will be submitted to the Hillsdale County Prosecutor’s Office for review of possible criminal charges.
Authorities said they will also determine the fate of the dogs once the investigation is completed.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Woman, girl attacked by three dogs in Hillsdale Co., seriously injured
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
