Pet Dog Crushes 11-Year-Old's Facial Bones In Vicious Attack; Victim Critical

An 11-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after he was attacked by a pet dog while playing in front of his home Monday.

The pit bull crushed the facial bones of the child and also inflicted severe injuries on his head, neck, thighs and hand. The boy, identified as Vishal Meena, received at least 32 bite wounds on his body, local media Pink City Post reported. The dog belonged to the victim's landlord. The incident took place in the western Indian state of Rajasthan.

The dog was not on a leash when it entered the backyard of the boy's home Monday. Meena's mother rushed outside when she heard her son screaming for help. She saw the dog attacking the child in the courtyard. She rescued the child from the dog and rushed him to a nearby hospital.

After primary treatment, the child was shifted to another hospital. Doctors said his condition was critical. The local animal control agency took the dog into custody.

"The dog will be kept under observation for two days. Based on the doctor's advice, we will decide our next step," Rajesh Gupta, an in-charge at the animal control branch of the Greater Municipal Corporation, told the Times of India.

Pit bulls are a ferocious breed and are often used as guard dogs.

"We always discourage people from purchasing ferocious breeds of dogs for their homes. The behavior of these foreign breeds is unpredictable and its constant threat for owners and people living in surroundings," Veterinary doctor Arvin Mathur told the outlet.

A police complaint was registered against the landlord.

"To earn money, breeders are selling these dogs. Pit bull is not registered with Kennel Club of India (KCI). The administration should take action against all the breeders and owners," said Shubhamoy Kumar, secretary of the animal protection organization People for Earth.