The Matapihi owner of an adult pitbull has been charged after police say his 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 briefly appeared in the Tauranga Community Magistrates' Court on Thursday, faced a charge of being the owner of a dog which causes injury.
It is a charge which attracts a maximum sentence of three years' jail.
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 toddler, who was visiting the property at the time, was treated at Tauranga Hospital.