"The two girls were out in the back yard of the -- the mother and the boyfriend said they heard some screaming. The boyfriend ran out to the back yard and discovered that the 5-year-old was being attacked by the Rottweiler on the back porch of their residence," said Fred Hayes, Joliet Police Chief.
The dog made its way inside the house before it ran outside and attacked the 10-year-old girl in the middle of the street. A passerby stopped to help.
"He was able to grab a metal bar out of the back of his truck and he fought off the dog," said Chief Hayes.
The 5-year old was airlifted to Children's Memorial Hospital with bites to her head and face. Her condition has improved from critical to stable.
Willhite suffered bites to her arm. She is also hospitalized in stable condition.
The girls' mother has been taking care of the dog for several months, but does not own it. She gave permission for the dog to be euthanized by Will County Animal Control.
Chief said criminal charges have not been ruled out. He also said the girls mother and boyfriend were having an argument before the attack.
"We're really not sure about what the dispute was about or what happened but apparently this was going on during this whole situation," said Chief Hayes.
