The parents of an 8-year-old Alpharetta girl say they were not properly warned of the dangers their daughter faced when she went to feed the dolphins at SeaWorld the day before Thanksgiving.

Jillian Thomas says she wants to be a dolphin trainer. So getting the chance to see the animals at SeaWorld was a dream.

Everything was going great until she moved the paper container that holds the fish.

“I accidentally held it up, the dolphin jumped up and ate the carton and bit my hand,” Thomas told Channel 2 Action News. “I was thinking it was going to haul me into the water.

Her father was recording the whole thing when her daughter was bit. He has posted the video on YouTube as a warning to parents.

“They told us to make sure the paper plate stays on the wall but we really didn't know why,” Mr. Thomas said. "We didn't sign a disclaimer, there were no signs on the wall that says the dolphin could bite your hand or there is a level of risk with this attraction."

Now he wants to “put pressure on SeaWorld to make some changes.” The Thomas family says the response from the staff was clumsy and they did not send a manager over to help.

“They did not tell us to look for any signs of infection. They rinsed it out with Bactine. We had to ask for Band-Aids,” mother Amy Thomas said.

Jillian suffered three puncture wounds the size of dimes and her hand became swollen. The cuts are healing.

SeaWorld issued a statement regarding the incident.

"Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our guests, employees and animals. Educators and animal care staff are always on-site at this area, monitoring all interactions and are committed to guest safety. Educators and animal care staff were at the attraction when this happened and immediately connected with the family. In addition, a member of our health services team was in the area at Dolphin Cove and quickly responded and treated the young girl. The video had not been previously shared with us and we have not a chance to assess it but certainly take the situation seriously."

The family said it does not plan to take any legal action, but they want SeaWorld to raise the age limit or warn parents that dolphins can and do bite.