Rabid Skunk Attacks Toddler

A 2-year-old girl named Fatima is recovering after being attacked by a rabid skunk in her Weymouth, Massachusetts, backyard last week.

According to 7 News Boston, Fatima was playing in her yard while her mom and grandmother were preparing dinner on the back deck when the skunk appeared.

We were just yelling at her to, 'Come to us, come to us!'" Fatima's grandmother Betty Bennette said. Well, she didn't come but the skunk did.

The rabid skunk chased the mom and grandmother from the back deck to a side door.

This is not a normal skunk, Fatima's mother, Marwa Elkhouly, recalled thinking. That's not going to just spray. That's attacking.

Bennette said the skunk chased her and Elkhouly into the house. I got the back door shut just as it was trying to come in, she said.

The family then came out a back door, and that is when the skunk latched onto Fatima's leg and would not let go.

The skunk bit right through the child's pants, leaving a bite mark on her leg. It also left scratch marks all over her arms.

I tried to carry her and I kicked him away, Elkhouly said. He was holding her so I put her down a little, and I kicked him until he let her go.

The family called first responders who killed the skunk when it became aggressive toward them. The skunk was tested by Animal Control, and confirmed rabid.

Fatima received treatment for her wounds at a hospital and is undergoing rabies shots to ensure she doesn't become infected with the deadly disease.

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