By WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

A Portsmouth woman has been hospitalized after she was bitten in the face by a pit bull dog, a health department official says.

Andy Gedeon, director of Environmental Health for the Portsmouth Health Department, said Judith Rickey, 55, of 1230 Summit St., Portsmouth, was hospitalized Monday after being bitten by a friend’s pit bull. Gedeon said the incident occurred at 1226 Summit St., Portsmouth, when Justin Steele of 2104 Oakland Ave., Portsmouth, was visiting his aunt’s house with his dog.

“According to the owner (Steele) the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. The victim was a friend of the family and a neighbor of the aunt. They were playing with the dog and its toy, when the dog lunged at her (Rickey) and bit her face,” Gedeon said. “The (dog’s) owner said he did not see the damage to the woman’s face but that she covered it and he could see blood.”

Gedeon said when he arrived at the scene, Rickey was being prepared to be flown by medical helicopter to a hospital for treatment. Gedeon said he didn’t know to which hospital she was taken. No further information was available on Rickey’s condition as of Wednesday afternoon.

The dog is 8 months old, brindle and white in color with no history of biting, Gedeon said. He said its name was not available.

Gedeon said the dog will be confined at 1226 Summit St. until the April 26.

“Before the dog can be returned to its owner it has to vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian. The veterinarian will sign-off on the dog’s health and that it had been vaccinated. The owner is required to do that by city ordinance,” Gedeon said.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.