Infant improving after attack by pit bull

By Kristi E. Swartz and Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An 8-month-old Clayton County girl who was severely injured in an attack by a pit bull is improving, the girl's aunt said Tuesday.

Tabitha Sidney told the AJC  that although the infant is still in intensive care unit, she is doing fine.

“We go see her every day,” Sidney said. “The doctors say she’s doing really well.”

Sidney said the family is unsure of when the baby will be released from the hospital.

The baby’s condition is also unknown. Saturday, the infant was listed in extreme critical condition in the neo-natal intensive care unit, according to Clayton County police.

Police have cited the dog’s owner, Bryant Sidney, 44, for prohibitive treatment of the dog and not having a rabies tag.

Sidney is the great uncle of the baby, believed to be about 8 months old, Clayton police said.

In information released by Clayton police late Friday night, a family member who was taking care of the baby had placed her on the kitchen floor. Another relative went outside through the kitchen door to give the dog some water, police said.

The dog unexpectedly entered the house and “he placed the infant’s lower left side in his mouth,” police said.

"The dog took a large bite out of the little girl’s buttocks," Lt. Tina Daniel with Clayton County police told the AJC.

The dog then dragged the child to the back yard before the baby's mother managed to snatch the baby away, police said. A family member walked up to the dog and struck it with an iron bar until it dropped the baby, police said.

The baby suffered extensive injuries to her bottom and lower back, Daniel said. The baby's name is not being released.

The dog is an adult, pit bull mixed breed, Daniel said.

The baby was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston and underwent emergency surgery, Daniel said.

The investigation into the incident continues, police said.

-Raisa Habersham contributed to this story