Toddler Mauled, Dog Put Down

Jamie Gunter said he saw a commotion outside 512 Trinity Ave. and saw a pit bull with what appeared to be a doll in its mouth. Gunter then determined the dog had attacked a child that lived next door, and he jumped the fence and kicked the dog to get the child out of the animal's mouth.

Jaida Riviera suffered injuries to her head and arms. She was recovering at home Tuesday evening.

Police said the girl was playing with a puppy in her back yard when the 3-year-old pit bull, which was owned by her family, suddenly attacked her. The girl's legs became wrapped in the dog's chains, and she couldn't escape, police said.

The family surrendered the dog to Durham Animal Control officers, and it was immediately put down because it lacked an immunization record.

The dog’s body is being tested for rabies.