inutes out and Officer Walker, the deputy there, he went above and beyond,  Pyron said.

He says the deputy helped control the bleeding before transporting his daughter to the hospital.

 So he pretty much, her neighbor and him, they saved her life. She's blessed to be alive,  Pyron said.

Her father says Cassie feared she was going to die during the attack.

 She says she just went to praying. You know, God, don't let them kill me, because she thought she was gonna die,  Pyron said.

Dog owner cited as investigation continues

Pyron says he wants the dogs' owner to be held accountable for the attack.

FOX 26 reached out to the Polk County Sheriff's Office to find out whether any charges will be filed.

Authorities say the attack remains under investigation.

The dogs' owner has already been cited for failing to vaccinate the animals and allowing them to roam at large.

All four dogs were taken to the Polk County Animal Control facility, where they are undergoing a required 10-day quarantine for rabies observation.

Once the quarantine is complete, the sheriff's office says it plans to begin the process of having the dogs declared dangerous.

Neighbor says dogs have been a problem before

A neighbor who lives nearby told FOX 26 he had concerns about the animals before the attack.

Scott Andrew says the dogs frequently roamed the neighborhood, barked at residents and chased children riding bicycles.

 They bark a lot, run up and down the road, chase kids on bicycles, come down my house and get in my garden,  Andrew said.

He claims he previously contacted animal control and the sheriff's office about the dogs, but says nothing was done to address his concerns.

When asked whether he was surprised by the attack, Andrew said he feared something like this would eventually happen.

 No, I figured it's gonna happen sooner or later,  he said.

Andrew believes the dogs should be removed from the neighborhood and their owner held responsible.

 Whoever owns them ought to take responsibility,  Andrew said.

What should you do if you encounter an aggressive dog?

Experts say every dog and situation is different, but there are steps people can take to help protect themselves during a dangerous encounter.

Avoid running: If possible, remain calm and slowly back away without turning your back on the dog.

Use an object as a barrier: If a dog tries to bite, place something between yourself and the animal, such as a jacket, bag, notebook or stick.

Avoid pulling away from a bite: Pulling against a dog's grip can cause additional injuries.

For additional safety information, visit Houston's BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions⁠.