The incident happened in a garage at 10146 Bloomfield Hills Drive when the dog reacted to the child trying to feed it, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.
"A dog may sometimes mistake the uncoordinated movement of a child for teasing," she said.
The child was taken to a hospital after being bitten twice in the face and once in the chest by the 3-year-old dog, named Fresh, said Michael Anthony, an animal control officer with Hillsborough County.
Two adults also were injured during the incident.
A man suffered a minor bite injury to the arm, and a woman was taken to a hospital after being bitten on the arm as well, Anthony said. The extent of her injuries isn't immediately available.
The owner stabbed the dog in the face to get the animal off the child, Anthony said.
Animal control officials said they haven't had prior issues with the dog.
The pet's owners surrendered the dog to animal control.
Ryan said the dog's owners would be cited because they could not show proof of vaccination and tags.
(Tampa Bay Online - April 27, 2011)
