Man arrested after pack of dogs tore flesh from girl's ‘entire body' leaving her unrecognizable & needing 500 stitches
Tracy Hurtado was left needing over 500 stitches after more than 10 "large breed dogs" savaged her whilst out for a jog in Newberry Springs, California.
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The 17-year-old was running on a dirt road between 6:30 and 7 am on July 17 when she was nearly killed by the animals, cops said.
A neighbor heard the girls screams, called 911 and rushed to help, quickly followed by Tracy's mother Maria.
"I thought they ripped her arms off," the distraught mom told ABC News.
"I didn't know who she was. She was so dirty, covered in dirt, so I couldn't recognize my daughter.
"I recognized her bra, that's what I recognized."
"I got close to her and she asked me, 'Mom, am I still pretty? and I said 'Yeah, you're beautiful," Maria added.
Tracy was rushed for treatment at the Loma Linda Children's Hospital where she stayed for a number of days.
Her stepfather Carlos Ramirez told the news outlet how she needed over 500 stitches for wounds all over her body.
"What was going through my mind was the worst," he said.
"It was not one dog or two dogs, it was a lot. I mean, they bit every part of her body you could think of except for her ankles."
Officials said she had suffered "large lacerations, abrasions, and removed flesh."
On August 13, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department announced the arrest of Craig Arthur Simmons in connection with the attack.
Officials confirmed the 61-year-old's arrest after having "conducted surveillance" on his home.
Prior to the arrest, cops saw him riding his bike near the property and they interviewed him and took him into custody.
He is charged with being the owner of an animal causing serious bodily injury or death.
Officials had previously seized 16 dogs from the area before a criminal investigation was launched.
The Sheriff's Department added that the canines belonging to Simmons were "not fenced or leashed at the time of the incident".
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Tracy's recovery.
At the time of writing it has raised over $33,000 of its $35,000 goal.
"She was getting ready to do her senior year of high school this year," the page reads.
"Now, because of this, she has to stay home and go to several doctor's appointments and rehab.
"Due to the trauma, she cannot sleep at night; she's having nightmares."
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