The owner of a dog that attacked a young boy in Australia has admitted he “panicked” and fled.

The attack occurred around 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday in Pennington, Australia leaving the three-year-old boy needing surgery after the dog tore skin from his face and ripped open his mouth.

The dog, a Tenterfield terrier, was quickly taken away by its owner before emergency services arrived.

Speaking to 7NEWS on Thursday, the owner said he was sorry for the pain that was caused by his pet.

“I just panicked. I’m very apologetic to the child, obviously, and the family for putting them through this pain,” he said.

According to the owner, the dog was eating something when the boy approached, which led to the attack.

“He was eating something off the ground, and the kid ran up to him. Obviously, that sparked him,” he explained.

The owner shared that he received the dog five years ago as a gift while struggling with anxiety and depression.

“My dog means a hell of a lot to me,” he added.

The young victim underwent surgery at the Women and Children’s Hospital and spent Wednesday night there. He has since been discharged and is recovering at home.

His father, Bassam Hafiz, expressed his frustration over the incident, revealing that the injuries may leave permanent scars.

“I still am very upset because if you look at it, it’s half his face and he’s only a child,” Bassam Hafiz said.

The City of Charles Sturt Council in Australia has confirmed that inspectors have identified the dog owner, and the investigation “remains ongoing”.