Family Dog Saves Young Girl From Rabid Fox Attack

A six-year-old girl from Bath, Maine was saved by her friend's dog after a rabid fox chased her inside their home and bit her on the leg. Julia Davis was playing outside at a friend's house when the fox bolted out the woods and ran straight for Julia and her friend.

The terrified girls ran inside while the fox continued to chase after them.

"Me and my friend saw the fox. We ran straight to their house. The fox bit my towel. So I dropped it, and it bit my dress," the young girl told WGME.

They managed to get inside but the fox was right behind them and jumped up and bit Julie on the back of her leg.

"When the fox jumped at her, one tooth got her leg. And the rest of them got her dress. So when she pulled her dress, the fox let go," Julia's mother, Kristie said.

Luckily, Socks, the family's dog, was there and rushed into action. Socks chased the fox outside and eventually killed the rabid animal.

Julia was taken to the hospital where she was treated and given rabies shots.

"It's very painful. But she didn't move. She stayed completely still and let them do it," Kristie said.

Socks was up to date on his rabies shots but was given a booster and will be quarantined at home for a few days.

"I think he's a really good boy," Julia said. "And my mom and my dad they're going to go to a place where they make really good dog treats. And they're going to get some for him."

Officials in Bath say it was the fifth rabies incident of the year. They advised residents to make sure their pets are up to date on the rabies vaccine and to call the police if they see any wild animals acting strangely.