Two men arrested after serious dog attack

4.45pm

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with an incident in which a dog mauled a seven-year-old girl in an Auckland reserve on Friday night.

Balmoral police Sergeant Keith Brady told NZPA that two dogs were also seized this afternoon when the men, aged 46 and 55, were arrested at a suburban Westmere house.

One of the dogs was allegedly responsible for the attack on Carolina Anderson, who suffered horrific injuries, including having her nose ripped off and one of her eyes seriously damaged, during the attack at Cox's Bay Reserve in Westmere.

Mr Brady said the arrests were made after information was received from the public.

The men will appear in Auckland District Court on Friday, both facing a charge of owning a dog that caused serious injury.

The maximum penalty on the charge is three months' jail or a $5000 fine.

- NZPA