UPDATED 11.32AM:  A 7-year-old boy has undergone more than 100 facial stitches, had a metal plate inserted into his fractured nose and cheek and may never regain movement in his upper lip after being mauled by a pitbull in south Auckland.

Darnell Minarapa-Brown was pinned down and attacked by his uncle's dog in Takanini around 1pm yesterday - leaving him covered in blood with nine facial puncture wounds.

He was rushed to Middlemore Hospital and came out of surgery around 2am this morning.

His mother, Virginia Minarapa, said when Darnell first woke up he asked about what happened to Caesar, the 3-year-old pitbull.

When he was told Caesar had been taken away by the pound, Darnell said: "He only needs to be put into a cage," Minarapa told the Herald.

Caesar is being held at the Manukau animal shelter while Auckland Council investigates the attack.

"There will be a meeting to determine the next steps tomorrow," a council spokesman said.

Darnell was his "usual self" this morning, but struggling to talk and eat as he still has no feeling in top lip, Minarapa said.

"The nerves in his top lip are damaged pretty badly. We are hoping he will get movement back, but it's not guaranteed," she said.

"He's trying to move everything with his bottom lip and tongue."

Darnell now faces recovery and rehabilitation, but because he's "a really strong boy" he might be home soon, Minarapa said.

It's still unknown what sparked Caesar's attack.

The pitbull was usually locked away when children were around, Minarapa said.

The attack occurred in the garage after Darnell jumped on the bed to play Playstation, giving Caesar a fright.

He had just been dropped off by his mother, who was reversing out of the driveway when the dog started mauling Darnell.

"I was in the driveway [when it happened]. Everybody was crying, screaming, panicking and upset. Only one person saw it happen," Minarapa said.

Blood stains are visible on the floor in the garage where the attack took place.

Ceasar's owner and Darnell's uncle, Henare Carroll, said he was shocked the dog was so violent as he had been brought up around people.

He expected Caesar would be euthanised.

Meanwhile, there's calls for pitbulls to be banned following the attack.  

Auckland Council's chairman of regulatory bylaws Callum Penrose said pitbulls are too often involved in attacks.  He doesn't think they're fit to be around children.

"Time has come, we need to ban this particular breed of dogs."

He said it's likely the boy will need further treatment, but it's not just about the cost to the tax payer. 

"It's actually children getting maimed and damaged for the rest of their lives, and I'm saying when's enough enough?"

A study published in August found 99,000 dog bites had been recorded nationally in the decade to 2014 - with more than 5800 requiring hospital treatment.

Incident rates increased from 10.5 attacks per 100,000 people to 14.3 over the 10-year period.

More than 2500 charges were made under the Dog Control Act in the past five financial years. Just over 350 dog destruction orders were granted in that time.