Riverside County animal control officers were searching Tuesday for a dog that bit a child just east of Hemet.
The attack happened about 5 p.m. Monday in the area of Columbia Street and Johnston Avenue, according to Department of Animal Services spokesman John Welsh.
A 3-year-old boy named Jaxson Warino suffered a serious injury to the face.
"The whole left side of my son's face was cut open his left side of his eye was hurt," the boy's mother, Chrishtiauna Hernandez said.
It was unclear whether the dog was a family pet, a stray or belonged to a neighbor. Welsh said witnesses described the canine as a white pit bull mix.
Animal control officers had received reports on the possible whereabouts of the dog, but were still looking as of late afternoon Tuesday, according to Welsh.
Hernandez is pleading for help in finding the dog because her son now has to endure rabies shots as a precaution.
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"No 3-year-old, no one should go through what my son is going through now," she said.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the department at (951) 358-7387.
