A 7-year-old California girl required 1,000 stitches to reconstruct her face after she was attacked by a Japanese fighting dog, and local animal-control officials have gone to court to have the dog destroyed.

The girl was at the A Passion for Paws Rescue Inc. kennel on Sunday in the Southern California community of Romoland, Riverside County officials said, when a 2-year-old Akita "lunged" at her and attacked. It bit her on the right side of her face and she suffered puncture wounds and the injuries required three hours of surgery, officials said.

"Her injuries were quite shocking because her injuries were to the face," said John Welsh, spokesman for the county Department of Animal Services. "It's terrible when these attacks affect children.

The nonprofit group based in Romoland — about 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles — focuses on Akita rescues.

Video of dog provided by Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

"It's a big dog," Welsh said. "It's a bully breed dog."

Welsh said there have been several incidents at the nonprofit rescue group, but so far "we have not taken any action."

"We may not even have legal precedent to reject the license," Welsh said.

Attempts to reach A Passion for Paws were unsuccessful on Friday. But on its website, the group says, "Since the beginning of A Passion for Paws, we have saved the lives of almost 1,000 Akitas and other dogs."

Still, animal services officers, in a database search, found "at least five other serious bites involving dogs at or from this kennel" since 2013. Two of those occurred last year. "The investigation includes looking into a handful of other serious bites (that) involved dogs from the kennel," animal services said in a news release.

On the A Passion for Paws Facebook page, a listing for the dog involved in Sunday's attack was posted the day before. In it, the group highlights how well the dog, named Tux, gets along with children.

"Tux wants to know if you have a kid he can play with? Or, are you a big kid? Meet him at #AkitaRanch 28930 Ellis Ave, Romoland, CA email apassionforpaws@gmail.com," it says.

The attack happened about noon on Sunday as the girl’s parents and the child were with staff members at the kennel seeking to adopt the dog, which was rescued from a Los Angeles-area shelter in early February.

Animal Services Officer Carra Mathewson responded on Sunday and "retrieved the dog for a quarantine period." Mathewson asked the owner of the rescue group if she would surrender the dog for euthanasia. The owner declined and said that the dog is not aggressive, nor had it illustrated any aggressive behavior in the past.

Due to the severity of the attack, "Mathewson and her supervisor, Sgt. Lesley Huennekens, sought a destruction order at a public hearing on Thursday."

Because the victim's mother had to stay with her daughter and the father had to work, he provided testimony via telephone, said Welsh. A representative from A Passion for Paws also testified, saying the girl reportedly put her face close to the dog’s face and her parents were advised against such actions.

Welsh said the dog "has not exhibited any aggression at our shelter in San Jacinto."

The independent hearing officer had not yet made a decision by Friday afternoon, Welsh said. That a determination could come as soon as Monday, he said.

"There are a select number of dogs that are not suitable for adoption," Welsh said. He said Animal Services Director Allan Drusys wants public safety to be the top priority of his agency.

"His belief is we have to do everything in our power to protect the public," Welsh said.