A boy has undergone surgery in Hawke's Bay Hospital after a dog attack in Flaxmere.
The seven-year-old suffered severe lacerations, with a large piece torn from his right arm. His condition is described as comfortable.
Ambulance officers were called to a house at 6.25pm on Tuesday.
The dog, a male pit bull terrier cross is owned by the boy's mother and is to be destroyed.
Hastings District Council animal control unit team leader Clynton Chadwick told Morning Report the mother went to feed the chained animal, not realising that her son was behind her - and the dog went for the boy instead of the food.
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