A 14-month-old girl has been hospitalized after three pit bull dogs in a Campbell Avenue home broke through a barrier and attacked the toddler Tuesday morning.

Wendy Payton, animal control officer with the Portsmouth City Health Department, said Kahtauna Cook received bites over most of her body.

“As far as we can tell the dogs were unprovoked. They were in another room and were barricaded out. Somehow or another one of the dogs jumped over the barricade and the baby was crawling on the floor,” Payton said. “The dog grabbed the baby, according to the mother, and began to sling it around. At that point the other two dogs jumped in.”

Payton has worked as an animal control officer for the Portsmouth City Health Department for 13 years and said this is the worst biting case she’s seen.

“The situation brought tears to my eyes,” Payton said. “One of those dogs has a history of bites.”

Janet Jones, Kahtauna Cook’s mother, said she and Kahtauna’s grandmother, Crystal Jones, were also injured by the dogs. Crystal Jones was treated at the scene. Janet Jones was treated at a hospital for injuries to her face but was not admitted.

Janet Jones said early Tuesday evening she was with her daughter as they waited for Kahtauna to go to surgery.

A nursing supervisor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus said about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday that Kahtaunu was in fair condition.

Payton said she summoned Douglas Bowling, the dogs’ owner and Kahtauna Cook’s grandfather, to court for harboring vicious animals. More charges are possible, Payton said.

Bowling is scheduled to appear Thursday in Portsmouth Municipal Court.

Payton has issued a quarantine for the dogs.

“The dogs will be held at the Scioto County Dog Shelter for 10 days. The judge will determine the fate of the dogs. The owner (Bowling) will appear in court on Thursday.”

WAYNE ALLEN may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.