OAKLAND, MICHIGAN - Sheila Weber watched her 9-year-old son, Joseph, playing outdoors in a neighbor’s yard with 5-year-old Daniel Rich and the Webers’ 6-year-old Akita dog April 2.

“I yelled at them to stay away from the dog,” said Weber, who was inside her home on Rochester Road in Addison Township. “We don’t let kids play with the dog.”

In a split second, the dog began to bite Daniel and the boy had bites on his head, arm and back. He had about 10 stitches.

“This kid was really hurt, he’s got huge lacerations on the skull, arm and back,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Doug Molinar. “When you think of dog bites, you think of a nip, but this kid was really, really mauled by this dog.”

Daniel Rich and his mother, Jennifer, of Romeo, were visiting the Webers’ neighbors. When Daniel was bitten, he screamed and his mother ran outdoors, according to Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies.

Sheila Weber’s husband, Michael, also ran out and pulled the dog from Daniel.

Deputies and Oakland County Animal Control were dispatched the house at 8:06 p.m. for the incident.

The boy was taken to Crittenton Hospital for treatment of lacerations to the back of his head. He also sustained puncture wounds to his right arm, abdomen and lower back.

Sheila Weber said Daniel had seven stitches in his head and two on his arm.

The dark-colored dog was not licensed or up to date on its shots, officials said.

The Webers, who said their dog had never bitten anyone in the past, were issued a misdemeanor citation for having an unlicensed dog and they’ll have to go to court, said Molinar.

Daniel was treated and was released early April 3, and he is recovering.

The Webers visited Daniel at home, bringing him a gift basket.

“We were horrified,” Sheila said. “We feel terrible about it.”

The dog is in quarantine for 10 days before it is euthanized.

Sheila Weber believes the dog could have been protecting Joseph.

“She is very territorial over Joseph and the family,” Weber said.

The Webers said they plan to have the dog euthanized.

“There are a lot more kids around and we don’t want to take a risk,” Sheila said.

UPDATE: MOTHER wrote on Apr 8, 2010 7:21 PM:
" Hello DR, I would like to know who you are. I am the mother of the boy that was "mauled" by the Weber's dog. I did not even know that they had this dog OR that is was outside while my son was playing with their son. Sheila Weber can attest to that. While I appreciate you trying to defend us mothers, you have to get your facts straight as does the Oakland Press. The dog was chained on the side of their house and I did not see it until it was on top of my son. I never told him to stay away from it. Had I known the Weber's had a dog that was not to be near people, I would definitely NOT have let my son play in their yard. PERIOD!! And, I was not in the house when the even happened. Again, the facts in this article are not correct. The most important thing is that my son will be ok and that he has good friends like the Weber's son that knew what to do in a scary situation!! Both boys should be applauded for their bravery in such a scary situation!! "