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Jacksonville girl, 6, in life-threatening condition following dog attack

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — STORY: Beaches closed after two people bitten by sharks in Nassau County 

A community is coming together after a dog attack has left a six-year-old in life-threatening condition.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said the attack happened on the 2700 block of Herrick Drive at 10:17 a.m. Sunday.

Neighbors told Action News Jax they saw the child bleeding in her mother's arms.

"Now it’s time to worry," said Timothy Hightower, a neighbor.

Hightower said he was relaxing in his home when he heard a mother screaming for help.

''Kept hearing the noise. Somebody saying, 'Help me, help me'," Hightower said. "It sounded like a man and a woman fighting."

JSO said they found the girl unresponsive. She was taken to a local hospital by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue in serious condition.

Hightower said the little girl wasn't moving after the incident.

Police said the family was pet-sitting the dog responsible for the attack while the owner is away on vacation. Action News Jax cameras were rolling as animal care and protective services took a dog into custody earlier today.

Police have not confirmed if the dog seen in the Action News Jax footage is the dog responsible for the attack. They said the animal that bit the girl appears to be a pit bull-mixed breed.

''It’s just a pain and I hate to see suffering," said Hightower. "I’m praying that she lives."

Family members who did not want to go on camera described the situation to Action News Jax as "dire."