Woman Stabs Family Dog To Death After It Attacks Her Daughter

The nightmare unfolded on Sunday (24 April) after the two blue nose pitbulls - which were normally kept outside - were allowed into the home in Pico Rivera, California, for a bath.

But seemingly out of nowhere, they set upon one-year-old Ruby Ann Cervantes and began mauling her.

Ruby's mum, aunt and grandma desperately tried to free her, sustaining bite wounds in the process, but were unable to pry away the three-year-old dogs after several minutes.

Fearing for her daughter's life, mother Jamie Morales picked up a kitchen knife and began stabbing the pets.

One of the dogs died at the scene, while the other sustained stab wounds but survived.

"I did whatever I had to do to protect my daughter, because he wouldn't let go of my daughter, so I had to. I feel really bad, but I had to. I'm pretty sure anyone would have done it.

"I thought my daughter was going to die."

Ruby was rushed to LAC + USC Medical Center, having sustained bite injuries to her legs, ankles and shoulder, and underwent surgery.

Doctors told the family she will be placed in ICU following a second surgery for a hip fracture.

"The dog got her in the leg, her ankle and shoulder. Right now she's at LAUSC hospital and from there she's going to go to the ICU. She's strong."

She added: "The dogs are good dogs. We just had them bathed yesterday. I was asleep and my daughter heard the commotion."

Margaret has owned the dogs since they were puppies, and got them from the same litter. They had never shown signs of aggression towards Ruby before.

The surviving dog was taken by animal control and the family said it will be euthanised.

This news comes just a month after a toddler from Merseyside was mauled to death by the family's pet dog, who'd they'd only owned for a week.