The owner of a pitbull that attacked a seven-year-old today says he is shocked the dog was so violent as it had been brought up around people.
Henare Carroll, said his 7-year-old nephew Darnell was staying at his home on Matawalu Place in Takanini for the weekend.
His mother had just dropped him off at the home this afternoon and the boy ran straight into the garage to play PlayStation with Carroll's friend.
Though he didn't see the attack happen, he said he believed Darnell had jumped from the couch onto a bed in the garage - which doubles as a sleep out - giving three-year-old pitbull Caesar a fright.
Caesar attacked the boy, pinning him to the bed and mauling him.