Girl attacked by dog

12/26/2007
Reported by: Carolyn Scofield
www.wptv.com

LSix-year-old Tacarra McCray went through a lot Christmas Eve, a dog attack, a mad dash to the hospital, and several surgeries.
That wasn't the scary part.

“I didn't want to miss the presents and the party that we're having today,” says the little girl.

Tacarra ran outside to play Monday afternoon. As she stepped outside her home in Riviera Beach, a neighbor's pit bull attacked her.

The dog took a big bite out of her left cheek and severed part of her ear.

“When I saw her face, I was just like, ‘Is that my daughter or am I dreaming or what's going?’” says her father, Herman McCray.

Family members rushed Tacarra to St. Mary's Medical Center. Doctors there stitched up her cheek and reattached her ear.

Taccara's face is swollen and sore, she can't hear very well, and her leg hurts, but she's expected to make a full recovery.

“It should heal properly,” says McCray. “The guy came in real fast, he got to work fast, he did a good job, he did everything he was supposed to do. He took care of her.”

McCray says his neighbor usually keeps the dog chained. It escaped while being fed.

The neighbor immediately surrendered the pit bull to animal control. Still, Taccara says she'll probably play inside from now on.

She has a lot of Christmas presents to keep her occupied.