Years of recovery for girl injured in dog attack

A seven-year-old girl, who was critically injured after being bitten over 100 times by four dogs in a horrific attack that has shaken New Zealand, is faced with an uncertain future.

Sakuraku Uehar from Japan was Monday playing in a family friend's backyard at Murupara, a town in New Zealand's North Island, when she was attacked by Staffordshire bull terrier-cross dogs belonging to the property owner, media reported citing police. The cause for the attack was not immediately known.

Now being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Middlemore Hospital, a major facility in New Zealand's Manukau city, she is faced with an uncertain future owing to complicated reconstructive surgery needed to treat "extensive wounds".

"I don't think any of us were prepared for what we were going to see," New Zealand Herald quoted lead plastic and reconstructive surgeon Zac Moaveni, as saying, adding that she was suffering from over 100 bites on her face, limbs and almost "every part of her body".

Meanwhile, dedicated campaigns to help the girl and her family have been launched across New Zealand.

The incident that has shocked the South Pacific nation over this week, witnessed a social charity collection of NZ$65,000 (over $55,200) for the treatment of its "own little girl", it was reported Friday.

The victim's family, while stating that they did not know what to expect in the coming weeks and months, expressed gratitude for all the support they had received since the attack.

"Many people want to know how they can help, please just keep Sakurako in your prayers," the family said in a statement.