A dog that was chained to a pole in a backyard got loose and bit an 8-year-old girl Monday afternoon in the 2800 block of South Jones Street, police said.

The girl was walking down the street when the Rottweiler and German shepherd mix bit her leg, breaking the skin, said Lt. Paul Henderson, a police spokesman.

The girl was taken to Cook Children’s Medical Center in good condition, he said.

Police met with the dog’s owners, a 16-year-old male and 40-year-old woman, Henderson said. An investigation revealed that the dog had been chained to a pole in the backyard without food, water or shelter.

The woman was cited for having an unrestrained dog and no food, water or protection, he said.

Animal Control has put the dog under quarantine.

"It is very fortunate that the little girl did not sustain any more serious injuries," Henderson said. "Pet ownership is a responsibility not only to the animal but to the public. If you are irresponsible, then you should rethink having a pet."