The attack took place when the girl and her brother had been left in her great grandmother's care. The four family dogs - French Mastiffs - attacked the girl when the children were throwing snowballs and playing in the yard.
Their great grandmother was shoveling snow nearby and tried to calm the dogs and immediately called her daughter who owns the dogs.
As medics arrived to the scene the girl had already died. The dogs were sent to a kennel.
The police are investigating the incident, which has sparked outrage and discussion on Twitter.
"The dogs belonged to the family in which the girl had lived. What the hell do you need four dogs for?" tweeted one user.
"Suņi piederējuši ģimenei, kurā meitenīte dzīvojusi."
— Māris בּן-Ūdris (@arlekiins) November 5, 2016
Kāda suņa pēc tev vajadzīgi 4 suņi??https://t.co/DI3ZYQWuDw
While others called for legislative changes that would require people to be qualified when keeping large and potentially dangerous dogs.
"Dog trainers should educate the people. Big dog/-s are like a weapon. Weapons are not entrusted upon everybody. [This is a] task for the lawmakers," said Vilnis Skuja.
@LaukuSpamere kinologiem jāizglīto tauta. Liels(i) suns(ņi) ir kā ierocis. Ieročus neuztic jebkuram. Darbs likumdevējiem
— Vilnis Skuja (@SkujaVilnis) November 5, 2016
While another user posted a link outlining a proposal for legislative amendments that would require keepers of potentially dangerous dog breeds to be educated.
@SkujaVilnis @LaukuSpamere Man gluži tā pati doma - pārpublicēju FB rakstīto: https://t.co/0qtF4DcNKR
— Vents Zvaigzne (@Vents_Zvaigzne) November 6, 2016
Dog expert Ilze Cerbule told Latvian Radio that dogs cannot be left alone with children.
"The owner has a duty to protect the dog from the child, and the child from the dog," she said.
