A MUM was forced to stab her family’s pitbull to death with a kitchen knife after it began mauling her baby daughter.
Jamie Morales sprang into action after the animal launched a savage attack on her one-year-old when the tot started to cry.
She says she had to choose between “the dog or my daughter” when the blue nose pitbull gripped little Ruby Cervantes’ leg.
As she desperately tried to free the toddler from the dog’s jaws, another pitbull joined in the horrific attack at the family home in Pico Rivera, California.
After struggling with the animals, Jamie grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed one of the dogs to death to put an end to her baby’s agony.
Ruby was rushed to hospital with leg, ankle and shoulder injuries and is undergoing surgery for a hip fracture.
Mum Jamie also suffered injuries to her arm and face as she battled to protect the one-year-old.
She told foxla.com: “I stabbed him to get him off of my daughter. It was either him or my daughter and I chose my daughter.
“I did what I had to do because he wouldn’t let go. I feel really bad but I had to. I’m pretty sure anyone would have done it.
“I thought my daughter was going to die,” Jamie sobbed.
Ruby’s grandmother Margaret Morales – who has owned the dogs since they were puppies – and an aunt were also injured during the dog attack.
The animals had never before displayed any aggressive behavior, according to the family.
The distraught gran told ABC 7: “I walked into the kitchen and that’s when I (saw)…my two daughters and my son on the floor trying to get the dogs off.
“Finally, my daughter got up…and that’s when I (saw) my granddaughter. I (saw) the dog was latched on her left leg.
“That’s when I had to actually get my hand into his jaws and open them up and that’s when he released her.
“He had her by the leg and I had to get his teeth off her. He bit my hand and my hand’s pretty severely cut open.”
The surviving pitbull will be taken to animal control to be put down, according to reports.
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Pico Rivera Mayor Monica Sanchez said in a statement regarding the horror: “Like many others this morning I was horrified and dismayed at the news of the unprovoked attack on a one year child by a family’s pit bulls.
“I’d like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and best wishes for a swift recovery for the child and injured members of the family.”
