Child Mauled By Dog in Conyers

A 4-year-old Conyers boy is hospitalized in critical condition after a vicious dog attack at his Conyers home. Nathaniel Stafford suffered severe head injuries. The dog's owner agreed to have the animal put down.

It was a vicious attack. Nathaniel Stafford is recovering at Scottish Rite Hospital Friday night.

"The dog tore his skull the top of his skull from about right here it was lying on the ground," said the victim's boyfriend, Brian Caron. "It tore his ears off (and) lacerated his whole throat. They said if it was a quarter inch deeper it would have gotten his jugular vein -- would have killed him."

Caron said they were doing a favor for the dog's owner, and agreed to keep it tied up on the lower part of their property.

"It was scarier than anything I've ever scene. (It was) more scary than a scary movie. I've never seen anything like it my entire life," said Caron.

"It's far enough away from the house, I never thought anything like this would happen, but it did," said the victim's father.

The lab-pit mix named "Chaos" somehow the dog broke loose and attacked the boy. It is being held at the Rockdale County Animal Shelter. His owner, Thomas Chastain, has agreed to have the dog put down.

"Chaos shouldn't have bit him. He's at fault there. I don't doubt that. I gave them permission to put him down," said Chastain.

As for Nathaniel, Caron said the child has a long recovery ahead.

"His face is all sewed up right now. His ears are back on. They haven't done anything with the top of his head. They said it could take 10 days before they can do skin graph on the top of his head," Caron said.