Dog takes two-year-old's ear

A two-year-old boy has had his ear ripped off by a dog near a popular Canterbury lake.

The attack happened yesterday afternoon at Lake Crichton, near Dunsandel, and is believed to have involved a bull mastiff or pitbull-type dog.

Senior Constable Rod Stuart, of Leeston, said he went to the waterskiing lake about 3.30pm yesterday.

He said the boy was playing with the dog on some grass when he was attacked.

"The dog has attacked and taken the child's ear off," Stuart said.

"The dog has been pounded by dog control."

He said he thought the dog was a "bull mastiff or pitbull".

The boy's parents, believed to be holidaying in New Zealand, went with him to Christchurch Hospital.

Stuart said an investigation would be carried out when he was able to speak to the family.

St John Ambulance spokesman Ian Henderson said the boy was taken to hospital with "severe injuries" to the head area.

- © Fairfax NZ News