Boy, 4, mauled in horror dog attack during Perth playdate

A young boy has been left with horrific wounds to his eye, ear, and forehead after he was attacked by a rescue dog.

A young boy was left with serious facial injuries after he was mauled by a dog in Perth. Picture: Nine

A Perth mother has issued a desperate warning after her four-year-old son was suddenly and savagely attacked by a friend's rescue dog.

Swayde Rangi was at playdate at his friend’s house in Yangebup in Perth’s south last month when he was mauled by a bull Arab cross.

The young boy was left with horrific wounds to his eye, ear, and forehead, and after multiple surgeries there are still more to come.

A four-year-old has been mauled by a dog during a playdate. Picture: Nine

He was left with injuries to his eyes, ear, and forehead. Picture: Nine

His mother, Jasmine Santich, said she went into an “instant state of shock” during the attack and was now calling for answers.

“His forehead was exposed to the skull. His tear duct had been completely split in half,” the young mum told Nine News.

“If there’s a dog out the front, he’s instantly triggered - it’s like literally living in fight or flight mode all the time.

Mother Jasmine Santich said she went into an “instant state of shock”. Picture: Nine

Ms Santich told Nine News the dog allegedly had a history of bad behaviour but had not been euthanized.

She went on to claim the bull Arab cross had attacked twice before, including involving another child.

“Where do you draw the line?” she said.

“This was significant damage done to a child’s face and if this wasn’t enough, then what is?

The boy underwent multiple surgeries with more to come. Picture: Nine

“It could have been so much worse, and I guess my fear is if this were to happen again, would the next person be so lucky?”

The City of Cockburn told Nine it had issued a dangerous dog notice, with lifetime restrictions on the animal including being muzzled in public.

The council said the owner is also set to be prosecuted, though it claimed to have no evidence of prior attacks which would be investigated if victims come forward.

Originally published as Boy, 4, mauled in horror dog attack during Perth playdate