ASHTABULA, Ohio -- A local mother spoke out Monday about a vicious dog attack that left her 5-year-old daughter near death.

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Vicious Attack

NewsChannel5's Kareen Wynter reported that Amara Elrod (pictured, left and below) remains in critical condition at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital.

Her mother, Reagina Elrod (pictured, below), could barely keep it together when describing the little girl she came so close to losing.

Amara loved being around animals. Her mother said that's why she thought nothing about letting her daughter play with two dogs, a Rottweiler and a bulldog. The Elrods were visiting family friends when Amara was attacked in a split second.

Amara's mother described what she saw in the yard: two dogs viciously tearing her daughter apart, right in front of her eyes.

"She didn't even look like my baby until she opened her eyes," Elrod said. "I couldn't believe it. She says she was cold. She's my angel, has everyone wrapped around her little finger."

The dogs have been quarantined. The owner, Jason Lanning, plans to put them to sleep in the next several days.

Doctors said that Amara still isn't out of the woods. She still has extensive surgery ahead of her, with severe damage to her scalp and facial area.