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A Waikato boy mauled by a pack of dogs is recovering well and says he's looking forward to going back to school to play with his mates.
While the attack by the bull terrier-cattle crosses on Monday night, when he was cycling home, has left him nursing more than 100 bites and 300 stitches it hasn't put him off dogs.
"I've got a little foxy dog at home so I'm going to be fine with dogs in the future," he said.
"I'm not scared of dogs, just pitbulls. Other dogs are fine."
The 13-year-old is recovering in Waikato Hospital after suffering bites to more than 50 per cent of his body but is understood to be progressing well and was yesterday walking for the first time since the attack. He was thankful to fitness instructor Jeanne Robinson and two other women who came to his aid and said without them his injuries would have been worse.
Meanwhile, the dogs' owner, a distressed Stewart Witeri, told the Weekend Herald he hadn't slept properly since the attack. The 37-year-old labourer said he had taken time off work to cope with the stress and worry for "that poor young boy".
A keen pig hunter for the past 25 years, Mr Witeri said he smashed rocks over the dogs' heads and tried to break their jaws and necks - anything to make them stop.
"If I had a knife I would have stuck the lot of them."
He had never been attacked by the dogs he had bred but the 5-year-old mother had several 1-year-old pups which he described as "playful".
On the night of the attack he was bitten more than a dozen times on his arms and legs as he tried to wrestle the dogs.
Police and animal control arrived at his home after the attack and removed the dogs from their pens.
There was no tearful farewell as all four dogs were destroyed.
"When something like that happens they've got to go. I didn't really care, I was more concerned about the young fella."
Mr Witeri was uncertain about the police investigation but accepted he may face charges for the attack.
"I'm pretty honest. I'm not a bad person like some are making me out to be, I've got nothing to hide."
