Texas — Influencer Rachel Gibbs is sharing the frightening story of how her 3-year-old daughter, Hazel Paige, survived a devastating dog attack that left her with more than 150 stitches and required emergency facial reconstructive surgery.
While grateful that her daughter escaped permanent damage to her eyesight, Gibbs says the experience has changed how her family views dog safety around young children.
Toddler Seriously Injured During Visit With Family
In a video shared on July 26, Gibbs explained that the incident happened while her family was spending time at her parents’ home.
According to Gibbs, her parents’ dog suddenly attacked Hazel Paige, despite both she and her mother being nearby supervising the child.
She said everything unfolded within seconds before family members rushed the toddler to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Doctors performed three layers of stitches, including two internal layers and one external layer, to repair extensive facial injuries.
Gibbs later revealed that the surgeon stopped counting stitches after reaching 150, underscoring the severity of the attack.
Surgeons Helped Prevent More Serious Injuries
Despite the frightening injuries, Gibbs said her daughter was fortunate to be treated by a plastic surgeon and a facial reconstructive surgeon.
She also praised the medical team at UTMB’s pediatric emergency department, calling the experience the scariest hour of her life.
According to Gibbs, Hazel’s eye became swollen completely shut, but doctors told the family that her optic nerves, tear glands, and other critical structures were not damaged.
The influencer described her daughter as a “trooper”, saying she has been amazed by the resilience children can show after traumatic experiences.
Focus Turns to Recovery and Emotional Healing
Although Hazel is now home recovering, Gibbs acknowledged that the emotional impact may last much longer than the physical injuries.
She said the most lasting reminders of the attack will likely be the facial scar and the emotional trauma.
Trying to remain positive, Gibbs said her daughter would have “her own little Harry Potter scar,” noting that Hazel was named after the beloved book series.
The influencer also admitted the incident has made her more anxious around her own German Shepherd mixes, despite having trusted them previously.
Family Disagrees Over the Dog’s Future
In follow-up videos, Gibbs expressed frustration that her parents had not immediately removed the dog from their home after the attack.
She questioned why the animal was still living there, saying she struggled to understand why her daughter’s injuries were not enough to prompt immediate action.
Gibbs also revealed that she was bitten while trying to protect Hazel during the attack.
Initially, she said she was not convinced the dog needed to be rehomed. However, after reflecting on what happened, she concluded that finding the dog a new home was the safest decision.
According to Gibbs, local regulations require dogs involved in attacks like this to be rehomed, and city officials were expected to collect the dog.
Online Debate Follows Emotional Update
Gibbs’ videos quickly drew thousands of comments from viewers offering support, sharing similar experiences, and debating how families should handle dogs after serious attacks.
Some suggested that the dog could simply be confined whenever children visited.
Gibbs disagreed, explaining that hearing the dog bark would likely cause her daughter fear and anxiety after the traumatic experience.
She added that if her parents wanted to maintain a close relationship with their granddaughter, removing the dog from the home was, in her view, necessary to help Hazel feel safe during future visits.
As Hazel continues recovering, Gibbs says her family’s focus remains on helping the little girl heal physically and emotionally after an ordeal that changed their lives in an instant.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Should families permanently rehome dogs after a serious attack on a child, or are there other safe alternatives? Share your opinion in the comments below.
