Young Girl Is Victim of Dog Mauling

A mom reached out to comfort her little girl, encased in a hyperbaric chamber. But no glass can separate the bond between mother and daughter in a time of crisis.

11-year-old Jacqueline Tucker was the victim of a savage dog mauling. Not by a large Rottweiler or Pit Bull—but by a little mutt.

"It's a nightmare, it's a nightmare," said Jacqueline's mother.

It happened at a sleepover at her best friend's house last week in Palm Beach, Florida. During the night, Jacqueline fell off the couch and landed on the dog, Tanker, who was asleep on the floor. The startled dog attacked.

"This is probably the most severe dog bite to a child's face that I have ever seen in my career," said a doctor on the case.

Jacqueline's dad rushed to the hospital. He had no idea it would be so bad.

"The upper right section of her lip, cheek, and nose was completely removed," said Jacqueline's father.

There was one bit of good luck—most of what was ripped from her face was still in tact. It was reattached the night of the attack.

"I thought that was pretty good that they knew to put it on ice," said Jacqueline's father.

To speed recovery, Jacqueline now spends four hours a day inside the hyperbaric chamber at St. Mary's Hospital.

"It forces high pressure oxygen into the tissues and tries to stimulate blood flow," said Jacqueline's doctor.

If the reattachment doesn't take, Jacqueline will have to undergo further plastic surgery.

The grieving parents said they are very upset at the dog owners, and are concerned about how this will impact Jacqueline's future.

"I want her to know that she's still going to be pretty, no matter what," said her father.