HOUSTON—An 18-year-old mother is facing charges after police say she failed to protect her child from a pit bull.
Monica Ann Mares is charged with injury to a child by omission.
According to police, Mares was visiting her daughter at Mares’ mother’s house in December of 2010 when the child was attacked by the dog.
The child suffered lacerations and fractures to her face and was treated at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Court documents state that Mares’ daughter was taken away from her in 2009 by CPS after allegations of abuse.
Mares told investigators she bought the pit bull on Craigslist shortly after the child was taken away, but then she eventually gave the dog to her mother.
Mares said she was on a CPS-approved visit with her daughter at her mother’s home when her mother brought the dog inside because it was barking.
Once the dog was in the room with the girl and Mares, it attacked the child.
Police said Mares and her mother initially lied about who the dog belonged to and what kind of dog it was, because they were afraid Mares wouldn’t be allowed to see the girl again.
