The attack happened Monday night at the child's home in Hodgenville, in Larue County, Louisville television station WLKY reported.

As Emily Page Stinnett remains in stable condition at Louisville's Kosair Children's Hospital, Larue County Sheriff Bobby Shoffer struggles to remember an attack as gruesome as Monday's.

"It's the worst I've seen in my 17 years of law enforcement," he said.

Shoffer added that when he and his colleagues responded to the Stinnet's home, they saw a blood-spattered doghouse in the backyard, Miller reported. And the pit bull hadn't seemed to calm down since the attack. The deputies then took action.

"When we got at the scene, the child was in the backyard just a few feet from the dog," Shoffer said. "EMS was called, and they responded. The dog apparently was still aggressive and it wouldn't let EMS near the child, so the dog had to be put down."

Stinnett and another girl were swinging on the swingset with the pit bull chained and staked just 7 feet away, WLKY-TV reported.

Shoffer said something provoked the dog, and it snapped, pulling its stake as it lunged at the girl and biting her face just above the eyebrow.

"I guess you would say she was more or less scalped," Shoffer said. "She had some puncture wounds to her stomach."

According to Shoffer, the dog then dragged the little girl around the yard as she screamed for help. Her stepmother ran to Emily's aid, but the dog would not let her near the little girl. According to investigators, the stepmother took off in her car to get a neighbor to help rescue little the girl.

"These dogs are unpredictable," Shoffer said. "The least little thing ... the dog could be happy one minute, and the next minute they go absolutely crazy. Anybody that has young children (needs) to make sure the dog is chained or properly fenced in."

Once the girl was transported to Kosair, doctors there told the sheriff that child's hair and scalp had to be found and delivered or she would die. Shoffer said he had to cut the dog's stomach open to find the scalp, which was then rushed to the hospital, WLKY reported.

Family members told WLKY that the doctors reattached the majority of the scalp, but added that the girl still might face more surgeries.

Deb Campbell, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Animal Care and Control agency, said animal control officers responded to an emergency call shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday at Harbor and Northridge roads and found the female dog suffering from burns.

The dog had put out the flames -- in the process igniting a small grass fire -- by running away from her tormenter.

Dr. Brittney Calcott at Pets Unlimited said the tan-and-white dog -- which she has nicknamed Ember -- looks to be a purebred pit bull and has a healthy body and coat and sweet disposition, indicating that she may be someone's pet.

However, Campbell said, the dog was not wearing a collar and does not have an identifying microchip. Animal control officers said no one at the scene claimed ownership.

"She's doing well under the circumstances," Calcott said. She said Ember, whom she estimated to be about 10 months old, might be ready to be put up for adoption in about a month.

The pup is on pain medication, Calcott said, because she is missing numerous patches of skin on her hind end, belly, back, ears and lips.

Calcott said there was no residue on the dog to indicate what was used to set her afire.

Campbell said she didn't think the incident indicated a trend of violence against pit bulls, despite well-publicized attacks involving the animals. In one, 12-year-old Nicholas Faibish was mauled to death June 3 by his family's pet dogs.

However, Calcott, who has worked at Pets Unlimited for more than three years, said many of the neglected or abused dogs she has dealt with have been pit bulls.

There are no suspects in the incident. Animal Care and Control officials asked that anyone with information call (415) 554-9400.

E-mail Suzanne Herel at sherel@sfchronicle.com.

Dustin Carlin hugs his daughter Alyssa, 17 months, yesterday at the Stollery Children’s Hospital where the tot is recovering from surgery after a Rottweiler bit her.

Dustin Carlin says he learned a valuable lesson when 17-month-old Alyssa was forced to undergo surgery after suffering a punctured skull from the two-year-old dog.

"Watch your kids. It can happen so quickly," said Carlin. "You turn your back for a second and it happens."

Alyssa is still in hospital, but is expected to recover fully from her ordeal.

The incident happened Thursday evening as Carlin prepared hamburgers on the barbecue at his parents' Calder-area home.

Carlin didn't realize his daughter had followed him to the backyard, where the dogs, including an Akita, are kept.

"I just didn't see her walk behind me," he said.

As he was flipping the burgers, Alyssa made her way over to the dog. Carlin heard a growl, followed by his daughter's cries. The toddler was sitting on the ground, while blood poured from her head.

Frantic, Carlin scooped up his conscious daughter and drove her to Stollery Children's Hospital.

Staff there performed tests, including a CAT scan, before releasing the girl. The family got a call the next day to say the girl's skull had been punctured by the dog's tooth and she should return immediately for surgery.

The surgery went well, and it's expected Alyssa will be released from hospital Tuesday. She is currently receiving antibiotics for any infections.

As he waits to bring home his daughter, Carlin is deciding what to do with the dog, which is currently under quarantine for 10 days as required at his parents' home.

"It's never attacked before in its life," he said.

Carlin hopes to find the dog a home at a farm, but promises the animal will not go to any family with children. He refuses to put the dog down as it is not usually aggressive.

The family says it reported the incident to city police, who could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Rottweilers are often seen as dangerous. In December, a three-year-old Maple Ridge, B.C., boy died after being mauled by one or more dogs. Four dogs were in the home at the time of that attack, including three Rottweilers and a collie.

Jessica Crossley, operations supervisor with the Edmonton Humane Society, which is not involved in the case, was upset to hear about the latest incident.

"Certainly we are all very sorry to hear about the child. We hope she makes a full recovery," said Crossley.

The organization does not support the branding of specific types of dogs as dangerous, and would not comment on the appropriateness of having Rottweilers as pets.

Statistics show dog bites are common but not always reported to authorities. In Edmonton, dog bites where blood is drawn must be reported.

According to Partners for Animal and Community Safety, 200 dog bites were reported in 2001. The same year, 600 people were treated for dog bites in city hospitals.

Mickalene Thurman says the dog was taken from her backyard while she was away at church and she reported the dog stolen. The dog was found in the back yard the next day, beaten.

Police say they're investigating the case as a possible animal cruelty crime.

A three-year-old boy who lives about a mile from Thurman was bitten by another pit bull last month and his arm was amputated because of the wounds.

Here is part of the Moores statement.
On May 9, 2005, our pet Keisha, a pit bull terrier, was shot and injured by London city police while attending our residence. The officers were investigating a crimestoppers tip, which had led them to believe that a "wanted person" was at our home. This was not the case. One officer approached the side door, while the other waited by the roadway. Keisha, who was outside on her tie-out (plastic covered airline cable), approached the officer..who drew his weapon and shot
her in the front leg. According to his report to the SIU, she came at him aggressively, and he felt his life was in danger.

Because it was a crime scene, Keisha was not allowed to be moved by anyone, and subsequently the London Humane Society showed up and took Keisha for medical attention. We were told that she was not being taken from us, just getting her to medical care more quickly. This
turned out to be false. Keisha ended up losing her left front leg (amputation), due to the injury. We were not consulted on this decision. As well, we were informed that Keisha would not be returned
to us until the full cost of the Humane Society was paid. On May 18, the amount was $2200. Since that time, we have also been charged $15/day for boarding.

On June 29, we reached a settlement with the City of London and the Humane Society. They will release Keisha to us....for $1000. An additional $120 will need to be paid as soon as possible after her release. This amount represents one third of the overall cost.....however, we do not have the financial resources to pay. We need your assistance. Please help us to bring our pet home.

**Please do not send money to LHS to for Keisha send it through paypal to the owner **

This way they will go in with full amount and with have an official receipt showing paid in full. The paypal address is

gordodj2000@hotmail.com

BULLIES IN NEED is sending a donation but unfortunately we cannot cover the entire cost.

If you can spare a few dollars please consider Keisha.

Hi, my name is Raeleane and this is a story about my three year old pit bull terrier Buddy.

I live in Ipswich Queensland (Australia)and this is how Buddy's story starts, on the 5th of August 2004. I arrived home from a doctors appointment to find a note stating the Ipswich City Council had siezed my family pet on the grounds that he was of a restricted breed. When Ipswich city council are to seize a dog they are to be accompanied by Ipswich police officers who are to intervene only when animal control officers are under direct threat from animal owners. On the said day my home was un-occupied so there was no threat but police Constables Campbell and Foresithe Capsicum sprayed Buddy in order for council to obtain him.

Buddy was not a dangerous dog and had never hurt any-one so I fail to see how the use of Capsicum spray was necessary. I was permited to visit Buddy at the Ipswich pound via appointment which was given from C.E.O Jamie Quinn for 4:00pm the same after noon. Upon arriving I asked if my two year old son could come with me to see our pet and was told no I would need to make another appointment to include him so as more officers could accompiny us in. There was already four council officers present so why would they need additions for a two year old boy? Due to my need to see my poor boy I went alone and was led to a cage where Buddy was pacing and coughing as if he'd had some-thing stuck in his throat. I stood at the cage and was taken back when Buddy charged the cage with such force he smashed his face up on the cage which leads me to beleive he could not see me. When he heard my voice I could tell he was happy I was there and asked to be let in to his cage where I sat on the cement floor to cuddle and pat him. It was then I Realised Buddy had been sitting there for the past six hours with no vet attention or so much as a hose down in agony, he was still covered in the O.C spray.

I could do nothing but cry and when I asked why he was left in this state I was asked to leave, it broke my heart to walk away and leave Buddy there like that, I was approached upon leaving to sign my permission for Buddy to be terminated that day and did so in fear of the treatment he would get was told I would'nt get him back any-way, he would be put down two weeks from the 5th.

I got in touch with the RSPCA and was ignored for two months until I contacted RSPCA director Mark Towend who told me when they investigated my complaint they were told by Graham Shultz C.E.O of pound and John Maddigon, Manager, that staff had irrigated Buddy's head for twenty minutes after he was sprayed.
THIS IS A LIE!!!and never happened, council has NO record of this being done and as I seen Buddy's condition first hand and was affected by the spray personaly from having contact with my boy I know this to be a lie. I also have kept Buddy's collar which I removed from around his neck for evidence on this and hope to have it anylised to prove who we have to deal with as a community.

Two months later I come to find that Natural Justice provides a 21 day period for owners of restricted breeds to move their animals out of state which I was not granted, also council is to provide a 14 day notice of seizure which I never got and according to an Australian referendum to establish Local government held 3rd September 1988 all Local Government are recognised under the Australian constitution since so why are council and council officers enforceing bylaws for the purpose of conducting Local Government. The legislative proposal was '119A-Each State shall provide Local Government' The people of Australia voted NO! But yet they are here destroying familys by robbing us of our right to own and care for any breed of dog we choose to own.

These facts will not change what happened to Buddy nor bring him back but I wish I knew my rights when he was living so his injustice could have been avoided.

This is for you Bud, you will never be forgotten and will live on in my heart and memories Love aways Mum. Also a big thank-you to the few people around who helped me along this long and bumpy road. Lets stop the slaughter of innocent pets who have no control over their breed.

Recently I have received F.O.I documentation that states Buddy was shot with a bullet to destroy him by council while in his holding cage as they deemed it necessary due to his agression. They also stated via stat deck that they hosed Buddy's face off for twenty minutes in the pound yard after he was sprayed so which am I meant to beleive. That he was placid enough to allow them to hose him off or that he was too agressive to be put down humainly.

I have put in a request to RSPCA director Mark Towend to re-open Buddy's case based on these facts and am hoping for a thorough investergation as this is not acceptable and I wont accept this is a viable means of treatment on an animal.

Raeleane
raeleanep@yahoo.com