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Little Aotea Coxon will always have the mental and physical scars of a vicious mauling by a dog, but is recovering well, her mother says.
The Christchurch 2-year-old - set upon by an American staffordshire terrier-cross - has been home for a week after undergoing hours of surgery that left 290 stitches in her face.
Her mother, Chantel, revealed to the Herald yesterday that Aotea's older siblings, Keanu, 8, and Jasmine, 9, had been playing with the dog in Jellie Park before it suddenly turned on Aotea.
Keanu had been throwing a ball for the dog and it attacked his sister when the children went to leave.
"It might have been a bit annoyed. It went to nip at her feet and she tried to push it away and it went for her face," Ms Coxon said.
The dog, which escaped from a nearby fenced back yard, was destroyed after the attack. Its owners said it had never shown signs of being dangerous before.
Ms Coxon said Aotea was still in pain, but had been distracted by dozens of toys sent from well-wishers all over New Zealand.
"She's still got a hole in her face which is annoying her. She's had a few nightmares, where she wakes up and starts screaming. She doesn't talk about [the attack]. She just says, 'Naughty dog'."
A psychologist had said the trauma would diminish but would always remain.
Police are still deciding whether to charge the dog's owners, but Ms Coxon does not see any need to prosecute.
"I just said, 'Let it be done'. Everyone has had a traumatic time over it. I wouldn't like to be in their shoes."
She planned to meet them soon.
The outpouring of support for her family had been amazing and she sent her thanks to all those people.
