CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A 16-month-old girl from Chesapeake is on a recovery journey after a family dog attacked her, sending her to the hospital. And after multiple surgeries, she's back home.

Alette McGuire said she and her fiancé talk while she is heading home from coaching cross-country practice all the time. However, on the evening of September 22, the words shared over the phone were, "There's been an accident, you need to get to CHKD."

16-month-old Carmen's love for dogs has always been present, said her mother, Alette McGuire.

“'Doggy' was essentially her first word outside of 'dad,'" said McGuire.

Carmen was attacked by the family dog on the evening of September 22. Her family said they think she walked up to the dog and potentially startled him the wrong way.

Her dad did what he c

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