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Newport News kids share horrifying details of pit bull attack

Posted at 11:52 PM, Mar 20, 2013
and last updated 2013-03-21 15:03:42-04

Update: NewsChannel 3 has learned that no charges will be filed in this case by Animal Services and the owner has decided to have the dog put down. The Virginia Department of Health will conduct a rabies test.  

Newport News, Va. - Seven-year-old Mahogany Harris says she was attacked Wednesday evening by a pit bull while she was playing in the front yard of her Newport News home.

Three kids say they were bitten by the dog, but Mahogany took the brunt of the attack.

"Then it got to me when I was just standing by the wall, and then it got him again," Mahogany Harris said through tears. "And then the dog started pulling his pants down."

A couple hours after the attack, she pressed a cold pack against her stomach to reduce the swelling.

Quiz: Can you spot the Pit Bull?

Fortunately, none of the three children had to go to the hospital.Their father, Ricky Harris, came out to save his children.

"My daddy was hitting him with a red stick," Mahogany said.

Ricky Harris found a piece of wood on his porch and started hitting the dog with it. This gave the three kids enough time to run inside.

When police got to the scene, they say the dog lunged at the officer.

He then fired three shots, at least one of them hit the dog and the pit bull ran off. It was found a few blocks away in the backyard of its Roanoke Avenue home.

Related: 

Update: Pit bull shot by officer after biting kids in Newport News