MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- A Skagit County teenager needed 38 stitches in her leg after a dog attacked her, and now her frustrated father is trying to get answers from police and animal control about why they didn't help.
Skagit County Animal Control workers confiscated the dog on Friday and are investigating the case, but that's not much comfort to Karissa Bates.
"They followed me for about five minutes and one of them kept biting me," Bates said of the attack.
The attack happened Thursday as Bates walked home from school on the same trail she takes every day.
"I was really scared and I was screaming for help the entire time and a couple of times I said I was getting attacked by dogs," she said.
A boxer sunk its teeth into the girl's leg, causing severe pain.
"She was bleeding everywhere, you know, it was just running down her legs," said Bernie Bates, Karissa's dad.
Bernie called 911 as he rushed his daughter to the hospital, but he said he didn't get much help.
"It was just so frustrating," he said. "No one really seemed to care. You know, it's their responsibility. It's their responsibility."
He said the 911 dispatcher told him to talk with the sheriff's office, who then told him to call the city of Concrete, which he did.
"The city said it was animal control's responsibility and I said animal control said it was theirs," he said.
A sheriff's department official admits there was some confusion in the aftermath of the attack, but she said the department is investigating liability and potential criminal charges.
The homeowner where the dogs came from said she's been keeping the dogs for her son.
Skagit County Animal Control workers confiscated the dog on Friday and are investigating the case, but that's not much comfort to Karissa Bates.
"They followed me for about five minutes and one of them kept biting me," Bates said of the attack.
The attack happened Thursday as Bates walked home from school on the same trail she takes every day.
"I was really scared and I was screaming for help the entire time and a couple of times I said I was getting attacked by dogs," she said.
A boxer sunk its teeth into the girl's leg, causing severe pain.
"She was bleeding everywhere, you know, it was just running down her legs," said Bernie Bates, Karissa's dad.
Bernie called 911 as he rushed his daughter to the hospital, but he said he didn't get much help.
"It was just so frustrating," he said. "No one really seemed to care. You know, it's their responsibility. It's their responsibility."
He said the 911 dispatcher told him to talk with the sheriff's office, who then told him to call the city of Concrete, which he did.
"The city said it was animal control's responsibility and I said animal control said it was theirs," he said.
A sheriff's department official admits there was some confusion in the aftermath of the attack, but she said the department is investigating liability and potential criminal charges.
The homeowner where the dogs came from said she's been keeping the dogs for her son.