An 8-year-old Christchurch boy was tossed in the air during a horror mauling at the weekend by his family's rottweilers.
The boy is in hospital with head and face injuries after the savage attack witnessed by his sister about 8am on Saturday.
The dogs have been taken away by city council animal control officers.
The boy had "significant" head, face, and leg injuries, said Inspector Derek Erasmus.
"It was a vicious attack. There are reports the dogs had been throwing the boy in the air."