A Rotorua nine-year-old has been left with deep cuts to her head and arm after being attacked by her neighbour's American bulldog.
The owner of the dog, who did not want to be named, said his partner was walking the two-year-old dog on a lead about 2.30pm today.
There were six children with her including their own children and the 9-year-old, who is a neighbour.
The dog owner said the girl had been bouncing a ball when the dog jumped up and bit her arm and her head.
He said his partner tried to pull the dog off the girl and then jumped on the girl to block her from the dog.
