Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, Salem police reported that a six-year-old-girl was attacked by a pack of Chihuahuas on 17 Street Northeast around Nebraska Street while she and her father, William Van Akin walked home from her Salem school, according to KPTV.
The child had to be taken to the hospital but is expected to be OK.
"We were only two blocks from the school when the five dogs just ran up barking and they ran straight after her and I thought they were just going to come up to us and back off, but the biggest one jumped up and bit her in the shoulder," says Van Akin
A school crossing guard was nearby and chased the dogs away.
Neighbors said the Chihuahuas were always getting loose from their yard and roaming the streets.
"They actually tried to come at me and bite me but I was with my dog and he started barking at them," said neighbor Ryan Cade.
According to KPTV, Since no one could say which dog out of the pack actually bit the girl, all but the quietest ones were confiscated.
Barbara Gualt, another neighbor said, "It was bound to happen, We've seen them chasing after people all the time."
The dogs' owner told FOX 12 that children in the neighborhood often let the dogs out. He also said he understood it was time to give them up.
The girl is expected to make a full recovery and is doing well.
Four of the Chihuahuas are currently at the Marion County Animal Shelter under a 10-day quarantine. Once the Chihuahua is finished with this quarantine period, a veterinarian will decide whether each animal will be placed for adoption or put down.
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