Across town, the brown pit bull mix sat in a cage at the Humane Society of South Mississippi, wagging her tail, unsure of her fate.

The attack happened about 7 p.m. Wednesday when Alisia, 3, and her 8-year-old aunt walked into the neighbor's yard, but no one really saw what happened, Alisia's mother, Crystal Johnson said.

The two had gone to the neighbor's house to get a baby stroller. The dog, which was in heat, was chained outside.

"I was watching them, but there's a fence and high grass," Johnson said. "I could see my sister but not my daughter. My sister said she turned and knocked on the door and heard something. The next thing I knew she ran back to the house screaming."

Alisia underwent plastic surgery Wednesday night; she has 32 stitches on her face, as well as some in her mouth and on her hairline. She also had puncture wounds on her head, Johnson said.

Johnson said the dog had wandered into the neighborhood about a month ago, and neighbors took her in. All the children played with the dog, which hadn't been aggressive before Wednesday.

"It's not like that dog hasn't been there, and she had played with it before," Johnson said. "They have kids, too, and their kids play with the dog every day."

Animal Control took the dog to the Humane Society, where she will be quarantined for 10 days. After that, because the incident occurred in the neighbors' yard and the dog was chained, the owners can come and get her. No charges will be filed against the owners.

What happened to Alisia is common, animal experts said Thursday, but it can be prevented.

Kim Staton, interim director of the spay/neuter clinic at the Humane Society, said chained dogs are three times as likely to bite as unchained dogs.

"It's usually a dog that the child is familiar with," she said. "It's not the child's fault, and it's not the dog's fault, but children sometimes do things that dogs perceive as threatening.

"Unfortunately, things happen quickly, and it's usually enough time to do some damage."

Maj. Tony Sauro is in charge of special operations with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department, and he said many breeds bite people, but pit bulls always get more attention.

"People are more apt to call in a bite if it's a pit bull," he said, "but any dog will bite."

He said pet owners and residents need to be responsible. Owners need to keep their dogs leashed and give them plenty of shade, water and attention. But residents need to do the right thing when they see a stray dog.

"When you see a loose dog, you need to call the police department or the sheriff's department," he said. "It's a quality of life issue, not only for the public, but for the pet."

He advised people not to look in the eyes of a dog they don't know because dogs perceive that as a threat.

As for Alisia, her mother isn't sure if her daughter will ever want to go near a dog again.

"I just got her used to dogs. She was scared to death of them," Johnson said. "I don't think she'll be used to them anymore."