A PERTH mother is pleading for dog owners to keep their animals under control after her daughter’s face was mauled during Australia Day celebrations.

Instead of enjoying the fireworks, Bayswater councillor Catherine Ehrhardt eight-year-old daughter Cordelia spent the evening at Princess Margaret Hospital after the dog pounced on her at the Maylands Peninsula Golf Course on Friday.

Camera Icon Little Cordelia underwent surgery after the attack.

Cordelia underwent reconstructive surgery on Saturday afternoon after suffering deep cuts around her eye and mouth in the unprovoked attack.

As reported by The Sunday Times last year, reckless Perth dog owners allowed their pets to commit nearly five attacks every day in the nine months to October.

The importance of training and good dog etiquette does not appear to be sinking in, with Cr Ehrhardt and her family just the latest victims of seemingly irresponsible ownership.

Cordelia was celebrating Australia Day with a big group of family and friends when the incident occurred.

“We were spread across two tables and Cordelia had walked over to play with my sister-in-law’s children when the dog jumped up and bit her,” she said.

She said the dog, believed to be an American Staffordshire terrier cross, belonged to a friend-of-a-friend and was leashed at the time of the attack.

“Apparently the owner of dog was in the toilet and had given the leash to someone else to hold,” Cr Ehrhardt said.

“I spoke with the woman who was in charge of the dog at the time and she said my daughter hadn’t done anything to provoke it.”

Cordelia was transported to PMH by ambulance and remained there on Friday night ahead of plastic surgery yesterday.

City of Bayswater rangers said the incident was still being investigated and the fate of the dog was not yet known.

Camera Icon Cordelia Ehrhardt after her surgery.

Cr Ehrhardt said she would push for it to be destroyed, while pursuing the dog’s owner for her daughter’s hospital bills.

The WA Dog Act 1976 carries maximum penalties of $10,000 or 12 months jail for serious dog attacks but prosecutions are rare.

Cr Ehrhardt said she was opposed to banning dogs from family events but owners had a duty of care to ensure they were aware of their pet’s capabilities and kept them under control at all times.

“Some dogs don’t handle large crowds and unfamiliar places very well,” she said. “It takes a special level of silliness to take a dog to an event where you know there are going to be lots of people making loud noises, a band playing and fireworks.”