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Seminole County parents ignore barking dogs as one of them mauls their child

Police Investigate Parents Of Dog-Mauling Victim

WESH.com/ NewsChannel 2 - Winter Park, Florida - USA
Written by Bob Kealing - April 4, 2005

SANFORD, Fla. -- Sanford police have launched a criminal investigation after a 7-year-old girl was mauled by a dog in her own back yard this weekend.

Police said Harley Baumgartner suffered more than 240 puncture wounds, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported.

The German shepherd that attacked her has been quarantined by Seminole County's Animal Control.

Police are crediting the quick action of an 84-year-old neighbor whose yelling got the dog to back off.

Dewey Reedy said he had just gone outside Sunday afternoon when he heard his neighbors' dogs barking "wildly."

"So I walked out there and this dog was shaking something on the ground. I thought it looked like a rag doll from where I was at. So, I said, 'Well I better walk on over and take a look.' I got over a bit closer to the fence, and by golly, I could tell it was a kid," Reedy said.

He said the child was covered in the blood. He said the dog finally stopped attacking from his and his neighbors' yelling, but he said it took several more yells to finally get the adults who were in the home to come out and help the child.

Investigators want to know why the parents left the child alone to see if there is evidence of neglect.

The girl is in fair condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital but she will need to have extensive plastic surgery.

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