Pit bull mauls mother, daughter

Dog wandered into yard; attacked 8-year-old in the face

Slideshow

Animal Tracks
A dog in dreads, two finicky sea turtles, a chilled-out chimp and monkeys and meerkats with pumpkins – find all that and more photos of creatures great and small.

more photos

Pet health videos

Dogs sniff peanuts for allergic kids
Nov. 10: Dogs are being trained to sniff out peanut products for kids with allergies. Sherry Mers, the founder of Angel Service Dogs, her daughter, Riley, and dog trainer Chris Jakubin explain how it works.

Corwin fights to save endangered species

Most pet microchips have outdated info

Hotel in Taiwan pampers pooches

Painting pooch is dog-gone good

updated 1:22 p.m. ET July 11, 2005

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - A mother and her eight-year-old daughter have been injured in a pit bull attack in Santa Rosa, California.

The dog walked into their yard yesterday through an open gate.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department says the dog, named Smokey, got loose from a neighbor’s house where it was staying while its owner moved.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Authorities say it attacked eight-year-old Annette Rojas, locking onto her face. Bystanders fought it off with a pool cue, hoe and crowbard that were nearby. The dog turned at attack the mother, biting her on the arm before she got free.

She’s been released from the hospital and the child is listed in fair condition with deep cuts to her face. A hospital spokesman says some of the cuts will likely leave permanent scars.

Animal control authorities are holding the dog and will investigate the attack.