Child in hospital after dog attack, neighbor saves her by killing the animal, Harnett sheriff says

LILLINGTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- An 8-year-old girl is being treated at a hospital for injuries from a dog attack on Thursday in Harnett County.

According to the Harnett County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded around 5:50 p.m. to a call about a dog attacking a child on Bison Lane in Lillington. When they arrived, they saw EMS treating a man and a child for injuries from the attack.

Deputies said their preliminary investigation showed the attack happened when several children were playing and a dog came into the area and started walking around. Deputies said the dog attacked the girl without warning.

A neighbor, 51-year-old Brian Ellis, jumped into action and tried to get the dog off the child but was unable to get control of the animal. That's when another neighbor took out his gun and shot and killed the dog.

The sheriff's office said the girl and Ellis were both taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.

The girl's injuries were deemed serious, and she was transferred to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. No other information was revealed about her condition.

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The sheriff's office said the dog belonged to someone in the area who had it tethered, but the dog was able to free itself from the collar. Investigators say the dog was a 2-year-old Akita.

The incident is still under investigation.