Dog owner on battery of charges (explicit image)

WAIKATO DHB

MULTIPLE BITES: The victim's mauled arm.

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The owner of four pig dogs that mauled a 13-year-old boy in Waihou last week faces a raft of charges under the Dog Control Act.

Stewart Witeri, 37, has been charged with two counts of owning a dog which caused injury and four of failing to register a dog.

He will appear in Morrinsville District Court next week.

The boy was discharged from Waikato Hospital at the weekend after surgery to his legs, arms and buttocks.

He suffered bites to 50 per cent of his body in the July 14 attack, which resulted in him receiving more than 300 stitches and spending five days in hospital.

The four dogs responsible for the attack were later destroyed.

Witeri visited the boy at his family's farmhouse near Te Aroha on Tuesday night to apologise.

Witeri said the visit to the family had lifted a load from his shoulders.

"It was a good meeting," he said.

"The boy was rapt and his mum was pleased to see me."

The boy's mother said her son was recovering well, both mentally and physically.  

- © Fairfax NZ News