UPDATE - A seven year-old girl is in critical condition in hospital today after she was attacked by a dog in an Auckland park yesterday.
Police are investigating the 10pm attack after the girl was left with serious head injuries when the dog attacked her in Cox's Bay Reserve in Westmere.
She was today undergoing surgery on her face and head at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital, police said in a statement.
Sergeant Nicole Topfer said the girl was playing in the park with her family and friends when the dog attacked.
"Her father pulled the dog off, only to be attacked himself. A friend then pulled the dog off him before it was retrieved by who we think was the owner," she said.
A man approached and put the dog on a leash. He exchanged some details with the victim's family then left.
"Our inquiries this far have not managed to locate the man or the dog which was described as a short-haired, light brown labrador-type with a very big head," Ms Topfer said.
It was thought the man lived nearby the reserve, which is popular with families, sports teams and people exercising themselves and their dogs.
Police appealed to the dog's owner to contact them.
- NZPA
Dog attack leaves girl with severe facial injuries
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