A 2-year old Garden City girl is back home, after she was attacked by a neighborhood dog. Her parents say she is lucky to be alive.

The breed of dog that attacked the girl is an Akita; an animal that can weigh between 75 and 100 pounds. At one time, the dog was used in Japan to hunt 800 pound bears. But to a 2-year old girl, the dog just looked like a big stuffed animal.

Cassandra Gonzalez is your typical 2-year old, full of fun and curiousity. But Monday, that curiousity nearly cost her her life.

A 13-year old boy was walking his Akita in her neighborhood, when he stopped in front of a house to say hello to some friends. The teenager warned his friends not to get too close to the dog, because of it's tendency to bite.

Cassandra got too close and the dog lunged at her, grabbing hold of the back of her head. The animal only let go after the boys repeatedly kicked the dog in the jaw.

Cassandra was rushed to the hospital. She was just released this morning. The dog is being held at the Garden City Animal Shelter, where he'll stay for the next 10 days. The dog's owners have been cited for a vicious animal biting a person.

Despite the horrible attack, Cassandra's parents say she apparently has no negative feelings toward dogs, including the family's boxer.

The Gonzalez family will come to Wichita this week to consult with a plastic surgeon who will assess Cassandra's head injuries.