CARROLLTON, Ga. -- A 5-year-old girl was killed by a dog in Carrollton Thursday, sheriff's deputies said.

Tiffany Pauley was reported missing just after 11 a.m. The body was found by neighbors around 1:30 p.m. at a house on Cypress Circle, a few doors down from where Pauley lived, deputies said.

Pauley, who suffered from Down syndrome, was attacked by a rottweiler that was chained, deputies said.

Patricia Cook, the dog owner's mother, said the dog's owner was the one who found the child in the back yard of his house.

"He is torn up because he found the child out there laying in the back yard," Cook said. "The child didn't have clothes or anything on. The child was just laying there."

Animal control officers have taken control of the dog as well as a pit bull and a German shepherd also staying at the home.

Cook said the family has never had any problems with the dog before Thursday.

"He's got small children too," Cook said. "They go out and play with the dog. It's just tragic what happened. It's a bad accident."

Carroll County Sheriff Terry Langley would not say if anyone had complained about the dogs in the past.

"There were other dogs," Langley said. "A couple of smaller dogs that were in a cage and another dog on a chain were found. The body was there in the area of the chain for the rottweiler, and that's the reason we believe now that some other dogs have been taken into custody as well. One of the dogs is a pit bull, one was a rottweiler and one was some part German shepherd."

Langley said the investigation is ongoing and warned other parents about keeping a watchful eye over their children.

"I'm not here to judge what has happened until I see the full investigation," Langley said. "A child can get away from you, and you want people to be observant, particularly with small children and particularly if they do know that large dogs are in the neighborhood."

Cook offered her condolences to Pauley's family.

"I would just like to say we are sorry for what happened and you're in our prayers," Cook said. "We are so terribly sorry. God be with you."