Dog attack victim 'in good spirits'

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A six-year-old boy who was mauled by two dogs in Ruatoria yesterday afternoon is "in good spirits" this morning, a family member says.

The son of a police officer, Brooking Poi, a "happy-go-lucky little boy", is in Gisborne Hospital with severe head, face and arm injuries after being savaged by two dogs owned by another officer yesterday afternoon.

In a statement, whanau spokesperson Nick Tupara acknowledged the staff at Gisborne Hospital, Te Puia Medical Centre, and the rescue helicopter crew "who flew in horrendous conditions to get Brooking to Gisborne Hospital".

"Brooking had McDonalds for breakfast this morning and is in good spirits.

"His cheeky character is slowly returning and he has lots of support from whanau and his community.

"Getting Brooking out of bed is the focus of both whanau at this point and with the constant warm wishes from the Ruatoria and Gisborne communities, the whanau are optimistic this will come very soon," Mr Tupara wrote.

"Our focus is on getting Brooking back to full health and both whanau are standing side by side in this endeavour. It's times like this that whanau gather strength together, and this will get us through this ordeal."

Police say the two dogs, both shar-pei cross-breeds, belonged to a police officer who was away in Gisborne for court duty at the time of the attack.

The youngster, son of Ruatoria constable Boycie Poi, was alone when he wandered into the yard where the dogs were kept.

No one was home at the time.

The two dogs were roaming free inside the fenced yard when they attacked Brooking, reportedly as he was playing on a trampoline, about 4pm.

Neighbour Jimmy Aupouri saw the attack and was able to pull the dogs off the boy and call for help.

Mr Aupouri, a Ngati Porou East Coast rugby executive, last night told how he ran in to help the boy.

"I was freaked out. When I grabbed him, it was no longer just a battle for one but a battle for the two of us."

Mr Aupouri was not hurt in the attack.

He said he had been with Brooking and his family all yesterday, comforting them.

"I deal with a lot of children and teenagers, and that particular boy we know very well and are very close to the family.

"We are also very close to the family who own the dogs."

Mr Aupouri gave a statement to the police late last night, and said he would speak to them again this morning.

The Eastland Community Trust rescue helicopter picked Brooking up from Te Puia Springs Medical Centre and flew him to Gisborne Hospital, where he had surgery.

It is understood he was able to talk to nurses yesterday morning.

His uncle Mick Tupara said last night that family members had been coming and going at the hospital throughout the day and were still coming to terms with the incident.

"Everybody's pretty low at the moment," he told the Herald.

"He's got plenty of family around him. We can't see him picking up very quickly."

Mr Tupara described Brooking as a "typical little 6-year-old nephew".

"He loves life, he loves playing ... he's a happy-go-lucky little boy. Everybody loves him to bits - he just wouldn't be the sort of kid to do anything wrong by the family."

In March, Brooking emptied his piggy-bank to give his savings to help people affected by the Christchurch earthquakes.

His mother, Simone Poi, told the Gisborne Herald he saved the money by doing household chores and saving his pocket money.

Police spokeswoman Kris McGehan said no one was home when Brooking wandered alone into the police officer's yard.

"The dogs were locked up in the fully fenced yard ... The kid walked into the backyard and the dogs have gone for him.

"We're investigating it, and we don't know how long it's going to take."

Asked whether Brooking was supervised at the time, Ms McGehan said: "We're not sure - that's what the investigation will be about."

The dogs have been destroyed. They were reportedly both registered.

One of the shar-pei dogs was crossed with a labrador and the other with a pitbull, Gisborne District Council chief animal control officer Pat Collins said.

Owners must keep their dogs under control at all times, especially when children were on a property.