Anchorage Daily News

The child who was attacked by a pit bull this week remained hospitalized in critical condition as her father was making his way home from Iraq to be with her late this week, according to the girl's family.

The fate of 6-year-old Isis Krieger, in critical care at Alaska Native Medical Center, remained uncertain.

"They're still giving her all her fluids and she's been twitching and stuff like that," said Wanda Injasoulian, Isis' great-grandmother. "Her little heart's beating really good, so there's no telling what's going on."

The attack by Dozer on Tuesday at Isis' East Anchorage home was not the dog's first, but it was the worst -- leaving the girl with severe neck injuries, she said. Kristine Smith, 20, was baby-sitting Isis and her sister at the time while their mother, Jessica Krieger, was at work.

Neighbor Troy Danforth shot and wounded the dog after finding it attacking Smith, who was bitten on the arm. The dog was killed Wednesday after being surrendered to Anchorage Animal Care and Control.

Isis underwent surgery shortly after the attack and has been fighting for her life since, Injasoulian said. Her 2-year-old sister was not injured, and Injasoulian said she has been watching the younger child while Krieger waits at the hospital with her other daughter.

"(The 2-year-old) sat there and saw the whole attack," said Injasoulian, who doesn't plan to let the child near two dogs that remain at the home. "The little girl doesn't need to go see them again. I don't want her around the dogs. I mean, she's only 2 1/2. I'm not going to allow that."

The father, a soldier stationed in Iraq, was being flown home on emergency leave to be with the family, she said. His flight had been delayed Thursday, and once he arrives doctors plan to meet with the family to discuss Isis' condition, she said.

"Everybody's hoping she'll be OK," Danforth said Friday. "Right now, we're just waiting for the father to get here. Everybody just keeps praying."

Injasoulian said she had warned her 24-year-old granddaughter about the dogs before and tried to get animal control to take them away. This wasn't Dozer's first problem. Months ago, he attacked another dog in the house and tore its ear, and Dozer turned on the young girls' mother once as well, she said.

"The dog bit her a couple of months ago. The same dog bit Jessica and it also bit her sister Andrea," Injasoulian said. "I've told her and called animal control. I even threatened to go over there and shoot the damned dogs. I can not tell you how many times I've told her, 'One of those dogs better not bite one of my great-granddaughters.' "

On Friday, Danforth set up a fund at Wells Fargo to help with Isis' medical expenses. Contributions can be deposited at any Wells Fargo branch to the Baby Isis Benefit Donation Fund.

Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call him at 257-4589.

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