By The Associated Press

(Port St. John-AP) -- A Florida Power and Light meter reader is hospitalized after being attacked by three pit bulls.

The attack took place Tuesday in Port St. John. Officials say the dogs jumped a fence and attacked Carol Dennison, tearing off the 52-year-old woman's ear and part of her scalp.

Dennison was airlifted to Holmes Medical Center in Melbourne for plastic surgery. FPL spokesman Sandy Sanderson says the injuries are critical but not life-threatening. After surgery, Dennison's condition was upgraded from critical to serious.

The attack happened Tuesday morning, when Dennison approached a fenced-in back yard to read the meter. The dogs jumped the fence and pounced on her as she struggled to use pepper spray to protect herself.

Dennison was able to run to her vehicle, then drove about half-a-mile before stopping at a home for help. All three dogs have been rounded up. An independent board will decide whether the dogs are to be returned to the owner or possibly put to sleep.

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