KULPMONT -- One day after being horribly mauled by a bullmastiff in an alley off Chestnut Street on Sunday afternoon, 9-year-old Amanda Smith was in critical, but stable condition, in a medically induced coma at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
Jody Cervantes, a cousin of Jennifer Smith, Amanda's mother, said, "From the dog attack, Amanda suffered multiple fractures, her sinuses were torn out, her skull was punctured, jaw broken and the bridge of her nose ripped away."
With Smith at the time, and also mauled by the same dog, was another 9-year-old, a neighbor from across the street, who was actually walking the dog when the attack began. Neighbors would not give her name, but said she was also taken to Geisinger, where she received 32 stitches in the lip before being released.
Smith faces a lengthy hospital stay and major reconstructive surgery. Already, she has endured a 5 1/2-hour operation. Doctors hope to wean her off a respirator soon.
But this Friday, said Katrina Hersey, a family friend, Amanda is scheduled for another operation, to repair a tear duct that was ripped out by the dog.
It all started innocently enough on Sunday at about 5:30 p.m.
Smith, who lives at 1039 Chestnut St., and her friend, had the bullmastiff on a leash. They walked onto Maple Street, an alley next to 1040 Chestnut St., where the dog's owner reportedly lives. Police would not identify the dog's owner.
The bullmastiff had never been a problem before, said neighbors.
A black dog suddenly appeared, barked, jumped a fence and provoked the bullmastiff, Hersey said.
The bullmastiff tried to get at the black dog.
Smith and her friend attempted to keep the large dog at bay, and that's when it turned on them.
According to Kulpmont police Cpl. Thomas Nowroski, it first bit Smith, then her friend, and then went back to severely maul Smith.
Her face covered with blood, hands cupped to her forehead, Smith ran wildly across the street to her house. There she met family and friends, including her grandmother.
"We looked at her at first," said Hersey, "and we thought the girls had found some red paint, and Amanda poured it over her face as makeup. Then, we suddenly realized it was blood."
Splashes of blood dripped on the alley by her feet.
A neighbor quickly recognized the problem, that she was severely bleeding through the nose cavity. He grabbed a towel and covered her face. Then, he got her to lie down.
"We called 911," said Hersey, picking up the story. "Fire and rescue people came here quickly."
Smith was flown to Geisinger by helicopter. Kulpmont fire and rescue personnel helped at the scene.
The dog was taken to the Sunbury Animal Hospital for 10 days of observation, said Nowroski.
"We have to decide what to do with it," he said. "We now know it is a danger to the community. And we have to protect our citizens, that's our first priority."
The case is under investigation.
Northumberland County District Attorney Anthony Rosini said he had no information about the incident and had not been contacted about the case. He said he would not comment on whether any charges would be brought against the dog's owner.
Meanwhile, said Cervantes, "The family is not well off, and there is no space at Ronald McDonald House."
"They have nothing," added Hersey, shaking her head. "They are on fixed income. They just moved here a few weeks ago from Lewisburg. Amanda was just starting Mount Carmel Elementary School. She is such a beautiful, fun-loving child. Always with a smile on her face. And now this. It has been just terrible."
Family members and friends have pooled funds to pay for a few nights in a hotel in Danville.
n Reporter Marcia Moore contributed to this story.
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