NICHOLASVILLE — A newborn that was snatched from a crib by a pet dog remained in critical condition Tuesday at University of Kentucky Hospital.

Alexander James Smith, the son of Michael and Chrissie Smith, was in an upstairs crib when Dakota, a Native American Indian dog, took the baby into its mouth.

The incident happened about 1 p.m. Monday — the day after the baby had been brought home — on Beaumont Road north of Nicholasville, said Jessamine County Deputy Sheriff Anthony Purcell. The father saw the dog in the yard with the baby, but the dog ran into some woods. It later came out of the woods with nothing in its mouth, Purcell said.

Hearing the infant crying, the father found him about 150 yards into the woods, Purcell said. The baby had cuts and puncture wounds to his torso and face.

"The dog had a history of grabbing things off counters and hiding things," Purcell said. He said the dog was slightly larger than a collie. Jessamine County Animal Control officers took the dog, but it has not been destroyed, Purcell said.

No charges have been filed, but Purcell said the matter has been forwarded to the commonwealth's attorney.

The Jessamine County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case, Chief Deputy Allen Peel said. The family had two Native American Indian dogs and a Labrador, Purcell said.