CONTENT WARNING: Images of injuries are shown and may be disturbing for some viewers.

SALEM, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) – A 1-year-old child is recovering after she was attacked by two dogs in Oregon.

Merissa Corron said she was returning to her northeast Salem apartment from church on Sunday with her two daughters, ages 3 and 16 months old, when the routine walk to her front door turned brutal.

At the entryway to their apartment, Corron said she heard two dogs inside her next-door neighbor’s apartment trying to get out.

One of the dogs belongs to the neighbor, according to Corron, while the other might belong to a family member.

Corron said her neighbor opened her apartment door and the two pit bulls rushed out.

Immediately, Corron said she pushed her older daughter out of the way, and the girl ran up the building’s stairs.

However, when Corron tried to grab her 1-year-old Adalynn, she said the dogs attacked.

For several minutes, Corron tried to shove the dogs off of her child. When she finally did, she got a clear look at the severity of Adalynn’s injuries.

Corron said one of the dogs ripped 12-by-12 centimeters of skin tissue off the back of the child’s head. She also suffered a skull fracture and bite wounds to her lower abdomen, face and back.

According to the Salem Police Department, Adalynn was first taken to Salem Health Emergency Department before being transferred to Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland for further treatment. As of Wednesday, she has undergone one surgery on her head.

Corron said she has reported her neighbor’s dog before, after an aggressive incident in which it attacked her own dog and bit her father.

Corron said the property management tried to take steps in response to the complaints.

“I had told her this dog is going to get loose, and he’s going to either kill somebody’s child or, you know, scar them for life. Now, obviously, I never thought it would be my kid,” Corron said.

Police said witnesses at the apartment complex reported previous incidents involving the dogs.

Police said one of the dog owners, 53-year-old Melinda Walker, was cited for having a dog as a public nuisance. She was also criminally charged with maintaining a dangerous dog and reckless endangerment.

Corron said her neighbor showed little concern during the attack.

“She grabbed her dog, but the only thing to say is, ‘Now my dog’s going to have to go to the pound.’ There was no concern whatsoever for my child,” she said.

Corron said she later received an apology over text message.

The Salem Police Department said both dogs were seized and taken to Marion County Dog Shelter. Corron said Walker’s dog has been euthanized, but that has not been independently confirmed.

Corron said Adalynn, fortunately, has no brain damage, but remains with a wound vac on her head. Her recovery will require additional surgery and years of monitoring. Despite the trauma, Corron said Adalynn is still herself.

“She’s walking around and just laughing and smiling. And as a mom, I never thought I’d see that again. I didn’t know if my baby would live,” Corron said. “If you have a violent dog like that, you need to take steps to prevent it from harming someone else.”

Corron is also exploring therapy for her older daughter, who saw the entire attack.

An online fundraiser has been launched to support Adalynn’s medical needs.

The investigation is ongoing.