MANSFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A Mansfield girl faces a long uphill battle after being severely injured during a dog attack.
On July 29, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office responded to a medical call at a home on State Highway 5 in Mansfield. Pearl Hartley, 6, was attacked by three dogs while playing in the family’s yard. That day, Wright County Sheriff Sonny Byerley told KY3 news they were unsure whose dogs they were or how many dogs were involved. He did confirm that the incident was under investigation, and deputies were looking at whether there would be any criminal charges.
According to a close friend of the Hartley family, Pearl was taken to Mercy Hospital in Springfield for emergency surgery.
“One of the Mercy surgeons came out and said, ‘We’ve done all we can, but we don’t have pediatric specialists here like she needs,’” said Stephen Randolph.
Randolph, Pearl’s father’s boss, has known the family for 15 years. He said he has known Pearl since she was born, and she even calls him Grandpa Steve. According to Randolph, the Hartley family was sitting down to eat breakfast that day. Pearl had finished and went out to play. The family had been dog-sitting for a family acquaintance. According to Randolph, none of the three dogs were locked up when the attack happened.
“Pearl’s a typical six-year-old, probably weighs 40, 45 pounds,” said Randolph. But she had more than 200 pounds worth of dogs attack her. First, one, and then the others joined in.”
According to Randolph, the dogs had severely damaged Pearl’s legs, and her neck was also bitten. The family heard Pearl screaming, and they ran outside to investigate.
“It was just pretty difficult to get them off,” said Randolph. “They finally did, but the damage that they had done was horrific.”
After Pearl’s initial surgery in Springfield, she was flown to Mercy Children’s Hospital in Kansas City. Since then, she’s had blood transfusions and four more surgeries.
“I can’t imagine what the cost of all this is going to be,” said Randolph. “This girl is facing many surgeries ahead of her.”
According to Randolph, Pearl needs a few things, including blood and plasma.
“Number two sounds strange,” said Randolph. “But get well cards would be an encouragement.”
And one more thing he said Pearl could use is a simple prayer.
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