By JESSA LEWIS
6 News Reporter
MARYVILLE (WATE) - A Seymour toddler is still recovering from a dog attack in December that put her in the hospital for several days.
Jasmine Lindenschmidt, age three, was badly injured by several dogs while playing in a family friend's backyard.
The attack left her with a damaged trachea and several scars.
"She's got some scarring on her head where her hair's not growing back. She's starting to develop a little bit of a fear of dogs, but other than that physically, she's healed up real good. She's a pretty tough little girl," said Jasmine's father, Charles Lindenschmidt.
James Morris, the owner of the dogs, has been cited and Blount County Animal Control has deemed the dogs as vicious.
A dog can be declared vicious if it has bitten someone and broken the skin or if it's constantly pursuing or damaging livestock.
Once a dog has been declared vicious, the owner must comply with additional rules.
"They have to keep the dog contained to a kennel area on a chain, and if they have it in public, they're going to have to have a muzzle on it," said Blount County Animal Control Officer Jeffery Campbell.
If an owner fails to comply with those rules, animal control can seize the animals.
Lindenschmidt's parents are working with her to make sure she knows the attack was an unusual event.
Morris is said to be in compliance with the new rules set for his dogs, following the citation.
Jasmine Lindenschmidt (source: family)
