TAYLOR, Mich. – A neighbor used his tablet to stop a pit bull that was attacking a 4-year-old girl in Taylor.
The attack happened at about 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, at Fourth and Chesterfield in the Robbinwood Villa mobile home neighborhood.
Police say the girl walked into a neighbor’s yard to pet a dog that was outside when a second dog, described as a 60 to 80 pound pit bull, broke out of its home and attacked her.
“My understanding is the door wasn’t shut all the way to the storm door, and the dog, after it saw the girl come into the yard, it got out and attacked,” said Taylor Det. Cpl. Mark Johnson.
Neighbor beats dog with tablet to stop attack
WARNING: Some of the details described in this story are graphic.
A neighbor who helped save the girl described what happened.
“I came outside to talk to the mailman, and I heard the baby screaming,” said Eddie Cooper, who was bloodied and bitten himself.
And what he saw sent him running to help.
“It was traumatic, I’ve never seen a baby’s face being chewed by a pit bull before,” said Cooper.
A woman was trying to grab hold of the dog, but the dog was too strong. So, Cooper hit it in the head as hard as he could to stop the attack.
When that didn’t work, Cooper used the tablet in his hand to hit the dog.
“It wouldn’t stop – I had my tablet, I have a broken tablet because I beat it in the head until it let the baby’s face go."
Local 4 asked Cooper, “What do you think would have happened if you hadn’t jumped in and stopped the attack?”
“I know what would’ve happened,” said Cooper. “That child wouldn’t be here right now.
Girl needs reconstructive surgery
The girl is being treated for her injuries at the hospital and is expected to survive.
Her father told Local 4 that she will need reconstructive surgery on her face.
Read more -- 4-year-old girl needs reconstructive surgery after pit bull attack in Taylor
Animal Control takes pit bull
The pit bull that attacked the 4-year-old girl was taken by animal control officers.
“The dog is friendly,” neighbor Brandy Cope said. “Never bit anyone. He comes over to my house. We take him places. The owner takes him places. I’ve raised him since he was a baby. I’m just not understanding why that happened.”
Local 4 saw a couple leaving a home near where the dog attacked the girl. The woman, who was crying, said they were going to say goodbye to the dog.