GHENT — The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident where a 6-year-old girl was bitten and severely injured by dogs in Ghent. Sheriff Eric Wallen said Thursday that the investigation was still ongoing, but the Sheriff’s Office would be sending reports to the Lyon County Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.

On Jan. 26, the Sheriff’s Office reported that a child was severely injured by three dogs at a Ghent residence. Wallen said the child was being watched by a babysitter at the residence. The babysitter was not the owner of the dogs. The dog owner also lived at the residence, and was present at the time of the incident, Wallen said.

Minneota resident Casey Winter said her daughter Zophiana was taken to Sioux Falls, and had surgeries for injuries to her arm, legs and ear. Winter said Friday that Zophiana was doing well, but their family was “just trying to adjust.”

“It’s been heartbreaking for the whole family,” Winter said of the situation. “It’s been a blessing that so many people have been helpful in so many ways.”

Winter said the kind words and prayers they had received from other people meant a lot.

Wallen said the three dogs were placed on a 10-day quarantine for biting a person. The dogs were also declared dangerous under Ghent city ordinances, he said. The dogs’ owner had a 14-day period to appeal the determination.

Two of the dogs involved in the incident had previously been declared dangerous by the city of Minneota, Wallen said. After the 10-day quarantine period, the two dogs were turned over to that community, he said. Wallen said the third dog remains in the kennel during the appeal process for Ghent’s dangerous dog declaration.