JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The 6-year-old St. Augustine girl mauled by a dog while on vacation was released from a hospital and allowed to return home on Friday.

Elizabeth Ivey was on vacation in North Carolina with her neighbors, Joan Jenkins and Jenkins' granddaughter, when a dog weighing 20 pounds more than her attacked.

Joan Jenkins fought the dog off the girl, but the animal had already done a lot of damage and Elizabeth had to be airlifted to a Tennessee hospital and endure four hours of surgery.

The girl suffered more than 100 bite and puncture wounds, seven major lacerations to her head, arms and legs and had to have more than 200 stitches.

Days later and still covered in bandages, Elizabeth laughed as she told Channel 4 on Friday she was right where she wanted to be -- on her mother's lap.

The 6-year-old was surrounded by family and friends at her welcome home party, which came complete with a cake, balloons and a lot of presents.

"There's cake, something to make bracelets, coloring stuff and clothes," Elizabeth said.

Her spirits were high at her party considering just five days previous, doctors didn't know if she was going survive the vicious dog attack.

"When the dog bites me, that was the most scariest part," Elizabeth said.

The scariest part for her parents was that they were seven hours away at their home in St. Augustine when they learned their daughter had been attacked.

"We got a phone call on Sunday not knowing what happened. It was the most horrible thing. I thought we lost her. All we knew was she was attacked by a dog," said Elizabeth's mother.

The girl's parents said after their daughter's attack, they want others to know about the dangers of letting dogs run lose.

The dog that attacked Elizabeth is expected to be quarantined for 10 days. The owner of the animal told Channel 4 that she plans have it put down.