Port Charlotte, FL - A woman has been accused of child neglect following an incident where a pit bull bit a baby, causing the child to lose multiple fingers.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) reports that the incident occurred on February 14th at a residence located on Abrade Avenue in Port Charlotte.
Deputies say 21-year-old Chloe Wisniewski claimed that she was feeling unwell and decided to place the infant girl in her bassinet before stepping away to take a shower.
Wisniewski told police that she briefly turned on the shower but promptly turned it off when she heard the baby's screams coming from the other room.
According to deputies, Wisniewski discovered their 3-month-old pit bull chewing on the baby's hand.
In response, Wisniewski immediately contacted emergency services and used a cloth to wrap the injured hand, which was bleeding profusely.
Emergency Medical Services arrived at the scene and transported the baby to ShorePoint Health in Port Charlotte.
The child was subsequently flown to Tampa General Hospital due to the severity of the injuries.
Medical professionals at Tampa General Hospital determined that surgical intervention was necessary.
Three fingers on the baby's left hand had to be fully amputated, while two fingers on the right hand suffered partial amputations.
During the investigation, Wisniewski informed deputies that the pit bull had been temporarily entrusted to her family on February 13th until a different individual could assume responsibility for the dog.
CCSO revealed that Wisniewski's urine was tested and came back positive for THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Wisniewski attributed the positive result to a cookie she consumed at a neighbor's house three or four days prior, claiming that it had tasted unusual.
She stated that she had not smoked marijuana or been exposed to secondhand smoke.
As a result of February's incident, Wisniewski faces a charge of child neglect.