Authorities in California said that four people, including a one-year-old girl, Ruby Ann Cervantes, were severely injured in a dog attack in Pico Rivera. Firefighters were called to a home located in the 9600 block of Homebrook Street, near the intersection of Rosemead and Washington boulevards, at around 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, for the emergency.
Fire officials revealed that several people were injured due to the pit bull attack and family members told FOX 11 that the mauling all happened in just a few minutes. All four victims were taken to a hospital for treatment and required stitches for their wounds.
Much of the attention was given to the toddler, with Cervantes rushed to the trauma center at LAC + USC Medical Center. The young girl underwent surgery and will undergo a second surgery for a hip fracture before being moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). Officials say Cervantes suffered wounds to her legs, ankles, and shoulder because of the attack.
The mother stabbed the pit bull to save her child's life
Jamie Morales, the girl's mother, said that she fought off the dogs to protect her child. She was emotional when recalling the incident, saying, "I stabbed him to get him off of my daughter. It was either him or my daughter, and I chose my daughter. I did what I had to do because he wouldn't let go."
Morales, who was bit by the dog in the face and arm while trying to protect her kid, said she felt really bad about killing the pit bull, but she had to. Morales added that she is pretty sure anyone would have done what she did.
According to a report by WDBJ7, the entire dog attack lasted no more than three or four minutes. Morales realized then that the dogs were not letting go of her daughter Ruby Ann, so she decided to pick up a knife to save her life.
Toddler's grandmother owned the blue-nose pit bulls
Also injured in the attack were Morales' sister and mother. They both tried to stop the dogs from attacking the toddler, with the two getting wounded in the process. Margaret Morales, the toddler's grandmother, owned the two pit bulls who attacked Cervantes. The family told NBC Los Angeles that they never thought this incident could happen to them.
The two dogs that attacked Cervantes were blue-nose pit bulls, both three years old. The grandmother owned the pit bulls since they were puppies from the same litter. The family said that the normally outdoor dogs had just taken a bath and were allowed inside the home.
That was when Ruby's mother saw one of the dogs bite the child's leg. Family members said the pit bulls attacked the girl as she might have been holding a toy dog at the time.
