(Image source from: Family dog mauls 9-month-old Tempe girl)

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A 9-month-old Tempe girl attacked by her family dog is still in critical condition on Wednesday. The infant had been admitted to a hospital with critical head injuries.

The child's mother had left her alone with the dog for some time on Tuesday, near Elliot Road and McClintock Drive. When she returned she found the infant was bleeding from her head, while the 8-year-old dog was just sitting beside her.

The mother had left the baby with the dog, a 95-pound Akita, to prepare her for a bath, said Sgt. Michael Pooley, a Tempe police spokesman. According to Pooley, the dog had been confined in a separate part of the house, but came to the infant after escaping a gate and mauled her.

The family of the infant is divided over the issue to euthanize the Akita, police said.

Apparently, the Akita had earlier attacked other family members. Two months ago, the mother was bitten by the dog. And two years ago her 10-year-old daughter was attacked which required stitches on her lips.

(Picture Source: dailymail.co.uk)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)