Blount County sheriff's officers responded to the child's home and found her bleeding from wounds on her head, face, neck and throat. Her name was not released.
The girl's mother said while they were playing with the dogs, she went to the kitchen to get her daughter a glass of water. When she came back out a moment later, the mother said the dogs had the girl on the ground, and they were biting her.
The mother pulled the dogs off her daughter and called for help. The child was taken to UT Medical Center for treatment.
The dogs, three are toy poodles and two are bull dog or pit bull mixes, are being quarantined on the property, pending a follow-up by Blount County Animal Control.
The sheriff's office says the incident is still under investigation, and no criminal charges have been filed.
6 News talked to the dog owner, James Earl Morris. His son is dating the mother of the three-year-old. The little girl and her mother do not live at the home where the dogs live. They were just visiting.
Morris has a total of six dogs, but only five of them were involved in the attack. Morris said the dogs are usually well behaved. "They like to lick on you and jump up and lick your face. That's the biggest problem we've had so far, until this day," he explained.
Morris said it was definitely not the little girl's fault. "She didn't do anything. The dogs just got rough with her. It's just that nobody was there."
Morris told 6 News that the dogs have never acted out before and he has no idea what caused them to get out of control. "The little girl's been in this house time and time again. Other kids have, too, but when I know there's kids around I make sure somebody is around with the dogs because sometimes they play rough. But the dogs have never hurt anyone or anything," he explained.
While the dogs are on house quarantine, Morris will watch them for 10 days to make sure they don't come in contact with any other animals. The dogs are required to be on a leash at all times, even in the fenced in backyard.
Morris says he just hopes the little girl gets better soon. "Nothing like this has ever happened. I feel sorry for the little girl. It makes me sick."
Morris said the little girl did need surgery and, to his knowledge, is in recovery.
(WATE - Dec 2, 2011)
