After spending a month in the hospital following a vicious dog attack that almost took her life, an 8-year-old Delaware girl was allowed to return home 30 days ahead of schedule due to her miraculous recovery.

Last month, Emily Ruckle, the daughter of a Newark, Delaware city councilman, was critically injured after a pit bull nearly tore her arm off in her own home. However, doctors allowed her to return home on Tuesday.

"First he bit me on the hip to knock me down and then he grabbed my arm, but he was going for the back of my neck," said the little girl according to NBC 10.

During her month-long stay, Emily underwent nine surgeries at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to reattach her arm to her body.

Before she went home, she wanted to personally thank the Newark police officers who helped save her life, said her father, Todd Ruckle, a freshman city councilman elected in April.

Although Emily must undergo more procedures and treatment in order to regain use of her limb, she appeared delighted to be released from the hospital.

"I'm really, really, really, really excited," she said.

The brutal dog attack occurred on Sept. 27 while her family was taking care of her mother's ex-husband's dog. The pit bull was being kept in a separate in-law suite at their home. However, Emily and her half-sister decided to let the dog out when they thought that it had to use the bathroom. That's when the canine attacked Emily.

"She's a tough cookie," said her mom, Maria McGuinness Ruckle. "I collapsed after I saw her. There's nothing that can compare to seeing your child unconscious in that kind of condition."

Newark Police fatally shot the pit bull shortly after the attack because its aggressive behavior prevented medics from treating the child.

"It's a long journey, and we're all going to do it together as a family," said Todd Ruckle, according to Delaware Online The News Journal. "We're going to get this arm better. Our entire family just wants to say thank you for the outreach, all the prayers, all the positive thoughts. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of people that have wished us well."

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