Middlemore Hospital specialises in facial reconstructive surgery, and last year treated 65 children from around New Zealand for serious dog injuries.
Last year, ACC received almost 10,000 claims for dog attacks, costing about $4 million.
The true number of annual attacks could be as high as 25,000, experts say, because reporting is not mandatory and owners may want to protect menacing pets.
Auckland Council said it had a report of an incident involving a dog and was now investigating.
WORST RECENT DOG ATTACKS:
- January 2003: Carolina Anderson, 7, was permanently disfigured after her face was savagely mauled by a cross-breed pitbull. Now 15, she still has to undergo surgery for her injuries. The attack sparked a major law change that brought in new dog control measures including bans on certain breeds, microchipping puppies, greater enforcement powers and tougher fines.
- March 2011: Three-year-old Oracle Brampton suffered a finger-sized puncture to his cheek and ongoing nightmares after he was attacked by a dog outside a west Auckland video store. The same month, nine-year-old Cameron Pita had to get 88 stitches for a large gash on his cheek and cuts to his upper body after he was attacked by a pointer cross.
- April 2011: Sheldon Davies, 7, had to undergo extensive surgery after a 45kg bull mastiff bounded over a west Auckland fence and tore at his face, leaving his lower lip and chin hanging off. His mother Carolyn stepped in and was thrown around like a ragdoll when the dog latched onto her arm. A Middlemore Hospital plastic surgeon said they were the worst injuries he had seen in his 10-year career.
- May 2011: A four-year-old Masterton girl had to undergo facial reconstructive surgery for extensive injuries after she was pinned to the ground and attacked by a bull mastiff-pitbull cross. On the same day a two-year-old girl was attacked in Kawerau.
