Parents are looking for the owner of a daycare to be held accountable after their 18-month-old son Dakota Hudson was attacked by a 4-year-old toddler. (courtesy)

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – When dropping your kids off at daycare, you expect them to return in the manner you delivered them, however, this was not the case for parents of 18-month-old Dakota Hudson and they are demanding answers.

Latoye Sutter works at night and received a text Thursday evening while she was at work stating her son had been attacked by a 4-year-old child.

Sutter says she asked the caregiver to send her photos of her son, but did not immediately receive them. After asking for photos again and receiving them, she immediately left work to pick up Dakota.

Pictures showed multiple scratches to Dakota’s face and he was also scratched in his eyes, according to Sutter.

“I dropped everything and left,” Sutter said. “When I got there, my son was covered in blood and looks like he had Neosporin cream on his face. I asked what happened and she explained to both of us (parent of alleged attacker) that she stepped away to the fire place – my son was on his cot and the other child was on his cot on an iPad. In those few seconds, she heard my baby crying and he was standing at the door covered in blood.”

Trent Hudson, Dakota’s father Facebook post has garnered more than 8,000 shares and friends and family members posts on Twitter has been retweeted 17,000 times and amassed 32,000 likes.

The residual effects of the attack has affected the normally happy, friendly toddler Dakota was, according to his mother.

“He’s doing better — his face has started healing, but his demeanor has changed,” Sutter said. “He’s normally a bubbly kid, he talks to strangers, but he’s a lot more withdrawn and clingy now. He now covers his face when he sleeps and cries while sleeping.”

The attack has also left Dakota with physical damage to his eyes as well.

“I just got off the phone with the doctor’s office — his cornea isn’t scratched in his eyes, but his eyes are and he has an appointment on Friday with a pediatric eye doctor to make sure no further damage is done,” his mother said.

An investigation has been opened by the Pascagoula Police Department, Mississippi Department of Health and Mississippi Department of Human Services.

“I want to be sure that this daycare is shut down,” Sutter said. “You entrust people with your kids and you expect them to do their job. I love kids and they are my passion, but I don’t want any other child to go through what my child has gone through.”

The daycare has not been identified because the owner has not been arrested, nor have charges been filed. The Mississippi Press placed a call to the owner of the daycare, but our call was not returned.