Girl's lip ripped off after family dog latches onto her face

“I did not hesitate at all (to put the dog down). He’s hurt my baby."

A young girl is lucky to be alive after she was mauled by her pet dog inside her home.

Niki Chrysanthopoulos, 12, suffered severe facial injuries when her pet American Bull Terrier became aggressive and latched onto her face.

7News reports Niki had returned home from school last Thursday afternoon and was enjoying a snack when the dog started growling at her.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

When Niki leant down to give him a kiss, the dog latched onto her face.

“I just started screaming,” Niki told 7News.

RELATED: ‘She had over 100 stitches and an endoscopy to check for internal damage’

Niki suffered severe facial injuries in the dog attack. Picture: 7News

She will require several surgeries on her face, and some injuries are expected to be permanent. Picture: 7News

"If a dog does that, it needs to be put down”

The young girl was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, some of which could be permanent.

The attack ripped off part of her lip, and several of her teeth were knocked out of place.

“After surgery I was freaking out and I couldn’t look at my face because I was scared to see what I’d look like,” Niki told 7News.

Mum Tanya “did not hesitate” to put the dog down after the attack.

The American Bull Terrier who attacked Niki has since been put down. Picture: 7News

“On the outside he looked like a big gentle giant, he had a good heart, but in the snap of a finger he was a totally different dog,” she told 7News.

“I did not hesitate at all. He’s hurt my baby.

“At the end of the day, if a dog does that, it needs to be put down.”

RELATED: Girl, 3, mauled by family dog months after moving to live with grandmother

7News reports Niki will likely require several surgeries, including reconstructive and dental work, over the coming weeks.

A family friend, Carolyn Lawrence, has set up a GoFundMe to help assist the family with any medical expenses.

The appeal had raised $400 as of Monday morning, with a target of $15,000.

Originally published as Girl's lip ripped off after family dog latches onto her face