PD: Tempe mom left kids alone, 1 bitten by dog

TEMPE, AZ - A Tempe mother has been arrested after one of her three children was bitten by a family pet after she left the kids home alone to go to work.

According to a Tempe police report, Yvette Ayala was arrested at Tempe St. Luke's Hospital where a 5-year-old was taken after suffering bite wounds to his face. The other two children are ages 7 and 1.

Police say that Ayala, 26, and her boyfriend left their Tempe apartment for work Saturday with the children still asleep "without locating any responsible child care."

Ayala and her boyfriend told police they unsuccessfully tried to contact a neighbor by phone and text to watch the kids.  

Ayala dropped her boyfriend off at work and then she went to work, knowing the children were at home alone, police say.

Police say due to the lack of supervision, the five-year-old boy was bitten by the family dog in the cheek and on the earlobe.

The boy then reportedly left the apartment on his own and was found by the apartment complex manager who called 911.

He was taken to Tempe St. Luke's Hospital where his injuries were treated. Police say the injuries were not serious.

While investigating the dog bite police were told by the neighbor that she was watching the children in her apartment and the incident must have happened when she went back to the children's apartment to get diapers for the youngest child.

But the 7-year-old told girl told police she was actually at home alone with her siblings and had fed them and herself bologna sandwiches for breakfast and changed the baby's diaper.

The neighbor then admitted that Ayala had sent her a text message asking her to lie to police about watching the children.

Ayala admitted to knowingly leaving the children home alone, which resulted in one of the children being injured.

She was booked into jail on three counts of child abuse.