FORT WORTH, Texas — Dalena Martin and her husband Jeremy cried as they stood outside of Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.
The couple visited their 2-year-old daughter in the hospital Friday evening, something they’ve done after work daily ever since their daughter, McKenna, was attacked by another family’s pit bull two weeks ago.
The attack happened after CPS placed the child on a temporary safety plan, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
The Martins told WFAA they voluntarily placed their daughter in the care of their family friends after relapsing from their drug addiction. CPS got involved in their daughter’s case and provided the option to place the child in a relative’s home, according to a CPS spokesperson.
Two weeks later, a family pit bull inside of McKenna’s temporary home suddenly lunged at the toddler from across the room and attacked her.
“It then got the taste of blood in her mouth and went crazy,” Dalena said. “She [the dog] was already becoming reactive, but she was a family dog and she laid with McKenna the night before.”
Sansom Park Police and MedStar confirmed to WFAA that they responded to a dog attack at the address where McKenna was temporarily staying. Police said the pit bull had a litter of puppies.
Paramedics rushed McKenna to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, where she’s had to undergo multiple surgeries following the attack that left the child’s face torn apart.
“It crushed her facial bones, all the tissue under the skin was completely detached from the skull,” Jeremy said. “Her lip had to be sown back in, nostrils back in, her tear duct on her left side had to be reinforced.”
The injuries are both visible and emotional.
“I feel like she’s lost her light, she’s scared,” Dalena said. “I just want her to smile.”
The Martins claim they warned CPS about the dog’s aggression several days before it attacked McKenna, and that the dog had attacked someone outside of the home two months ago. According to Dalena, she asked a CPS caseworker to find a new home for McKenna prior to the attack.
CPS declined to give further details on the case due to confidentiality laws, but the agency confirmed that as of Wednesday, the child is officially in DFPS custody.
The Martins told WFAA they’re in the process of trying to regain custody of their daughter. They also want to raise awareness about the danger of dogs who begin to show signs of aggression. They've started a GoFundMe to help with McKenna's medical expenses, although it's unclear who is responsible for her medical costs while the child is in DFPS custody.
“We want our daughter back,” Jeremy said. “This was supposed to be CPS’s safety plan, and McKenna paid the price for it.”