Six-year-old Florida girl dies after being attacked by a pit bull

A six-year-old girl has died two days after she was viciously attacked by a pit bull mix that her family was watching for a friend. 

Jaelah Smith, of Jacksonville, Florida, died from her injuries just before 7pm on Tuesday after being placed on life support. 

She was attacked by the pit bull, who had been left at the house by a family friend who went on vacation, around 10am on Sunday.  

 

Six-year-old Jaelah Smith, of Jacksonville, Florida, died two days after she was attacked by a pit bull that her family was watching for a friend on Sunday 

Jaelah’s brothers, aged seven and nine, were also in the home at the time of the attack but were not injured. 

Neighbors said they heard screaming and saw Sheree Smith, Jaelah’s mother, carrying her unconscious body outside of the house on Sunday morning. 

‘She begged, “Please somebody, call the police! Somebody help me!’ Timothy Hightower told WFTV. 

Jaelah was unresponsive when police and paramedics arrived at the scene. 

She was attacked by the pit bull, who had been left at the house by a family friend who went on vacation, around 10am on Sunday

She was attacked by the pit bull, who had been left at the house by a family friend who went on vacation, around 10am on Sunday

She was taken to Memorial Hospital with ‘serious, life-threatening injuries’ and was later transferred to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.      

‘She fought hard and I’m proud of her,’ Sheree Smith told First Coast News. 

Sheree said her daughter loved teddy bears and dreamed of working at Disney World so she could be a princess ‘all the time’. 

‘She loved flowers in her hair and loved dancing and singing and just being happy, never sad,’ Sheree said.  

The pit bull was removed from the home by Animal Care and Protective Services and placed on a 10-day quarantine

The pit bull was removed from the home by Animal Care and Protective Services and placed on a 10-day quarantine

The pit bull will be immediately euthanized following the quarantine, per Florida law, unless the owner files an appeal

The pit bull will be immediately euthanized following the quarantine, per Florida law, unless the owner files an appeal

‘This child was truly an angel on earth and made an everlasting impression on anyone who met her. I am so blessed God chose me to be her mom.’ 

The pit bull was removed from the home by Animal Care and Protective Services and placed on a 10-day quarantine. 

It will be immediately euthanized following the quarantine, per Florida law, unless the owner files an appeal.

A second dog was also removed from the home as a precaution. It remains unclear if the dog was also being watched by the Smith family or if it was their pet. 

Sheree Smith said her daughter loved teddy bears and dreamed of working at Disney World so she could be a princess 'all the time'

Sheree Smith said her daughter loved teddy bears and dreamed of working at Disney World so she could be a princess ‘all the time’

'This child was truly an angel on earth and made an everlasting impression on anyone who met her. I am so blessed God chose me to be her mom,' Smith said 

‘This child was truly an angel on earth and made an everlasting impression on anyone who met her. I am so blessed God chose me to be her mom,’ Smith said 

Hightower hopes the pit bull is put down.

‘It’s going to do it again,’ he said. ‘It tasted blood. It’s going to do it again.’ 

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, City of Jacksonville, and Department of Children and Families are all investigating the attack. 

Authorities said no arrests have been made and it continues to be an active investigation. 

A second dog was removed from the family's home (pictured) as a precaution on Sunday 

A second dog was removed from the family’s home (pictured) as a precaution on Sunday 



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