An 8-year-old girl was hospitalized Monday after she and her godmother were attacked by three dogs in Mesquite, authorities said.

The girl, who was not identified, was visiting her godmother's home in the 10400 block of FM 740 near the Forney and Mesquite city lines when she was attacked by two pit bulls and a border collie mix about 3:15 p.m. Monday, said Lt. Bill Hedgpeth, a Mesquite police spokesman.

The dogs attacked the girl when she knocked on the front door of the house where they lived.

The 54-year-old woman, who was also not identified, tried to scare away the dogs, but they began to bite her as well, Lt. Hedgpeth said. The child's uncle was able to chase the dogs away.

The girl was taken by CareFlite to Children's Medical Center Dallas with injuries to her torso and she was undergoing surgery, Lt. Hedgpeth said. The woman was taken by ambulance to Parkland Memorial Hospital with a bite on her arm.

Mesquite Animal Services took the dogs into custody at a nearby home, and they were to be tested for rabies.