The owner of an adult pitbull has been charged after police say the dog attacked and bit his 3-year-old nephew on the face resulting in a 6cm gash under the boy's right eye.
Arron James Kohu, 41, who appeared in Tauranga Community Magistrates' Court today faced a charge of being the owner of a dog which causes injury - a charge which attracts a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment.
Police say the dog which was tied up on a long chain attacked the boy at Kohu's Waikari Rd address on March 27 while the toddler was playing near the animal on the back lawn.
The Hastings boy, who was visiting the property at the time, was treated at Tauranga Hospital.
The dog was seized and remains in the dog pound pending the outcome of the court case.