Young boy severely mauled by pet dog in family home

A 12-year-old boy is nursing severe injuries in hospital after he was mauled by a pet mastiff cross at a home in Perth.

Two-year-old Snowy attacked the young boy on Sunday evening when he and his mother visited the Kenwick home in the city’s south-east.

“The dog was asleep on my bed and my friend’s son came in and sat on the bed and must have startled him … before I knew it, he was latched on his face and I couldn’t get him off,” owner Katrina Hayward told 9NEWS.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, adding she believed the pet dog was trying to protect her.

The boy was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital where he is being treated for severe injuries.

Ms Hayward, who also sustained bruises after attempting to pull the dog off the child, has been told by rangers there is little she can do to save Snowy after he was removed from the property yesterday morning.

“I don’t think he should be punished for something he didn’t deliberately do,” she said.

The incident comes two weeks after a mother who ran a boarding kennel and animal rescue home was attacked and mauled to death by a bull mastiff in Perth. 

Sue Lopicich, 58, was walking several dogs on her property in Southern River when the attack occurred on August 1. 

The mastiff cross was seized by rangers and euthanised by a veterinarian two days later. 

Ms Hayward has begged for her pet dog to be spared and investigations are ongoing.