TAYLOR, Mich. – A 4-year-old girl needs reconstructive surgery after she went to pet a dog and was attacked by a pit bull in Taylor, police said.
WARNING: Some of the details described in this story are graphic.
Dog attack
The attack happened around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the area of Fourth and Chesterfield streets within the Robbinwood Villa neighborhood.
Taylor police said the 4-year-old girl walked into the yard of a neighbor who lives near her home. She went to pet a dog that was outside in the yard.
A second dog, described by police as a 60-80 pound pit bull, broke out of its home and attacked, according to authorities.
“My understanding is the door wasn’t shut all the way to the storm door, and the dog -- after it saw the girl come into the yard -- it got out and attacked,” Taylor police Detective Cpl. Mark Johnston said.
Man stops attack with tablet
Eddie Cooper said he witnessed the attack when he walked outside.
“I came out to talk to the mailman and I heard the baby screaming,” Cooper said. “It was traumatic. I’ve never seen a baby’s face being chewed by a pit bull before.”
Cooper said some women were already trying to grab the dog when he arrived, but it was too strong.
“I hit it in the head as hard as I could, three times,” Cooper said.
That didn’t stop the dog, so Cooper said he used a tablet he was holding.
“It wouldn’t stop,” Cooper said. “I had my tablet. I have a broken tablet because I beat it in the head until it let the baby’s face go.”
“What do you think would have happened if you hadn’t jumped in and stopped the attack?” Local 4’s Pamela Osborn asked.
“I know what would’ve happened,” Cooper said. “That child wouldn’t be here right now.”
Girl’s injuries
The girl is expected to survive, but her injuries are severe.
She is currently at Corewell Health in Royal Oak. Her father said she’s going to need reconstructive surgery on her face.
Dog taken away
The dog was taken away by Animal Control.
“The dog is friendly,” neighbor Brandy Cope said. “Never bit anyone. He comes over to my house. We take him places. The owner takes him places. I’ve raised him since he was a baby. I’m just not understanding why that happened.”
Local 4 saw a couple leaving a home near the scene of the attack. A woman was crying and said they were going to say goodbye to the dog.
