An investigation is underway after a child was bitten by a dog at a school on the NSW South Coast.
SafeWork NSW is investigating after the six-year-old boy suffered cuts to his face when he was bitten by a support dog at Sanctuary Point Public School in Shoalhaven on Tuesday.
7NEWS.com.au understands the labradoodle had been attending the school to provide support and companionship to the students.
Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>
A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said the dog had been permanently removed from the school following the incident.
“The safety of our students is our highest priority,” a spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.
“In addition to undertaking our own review, the department is working with the school, SafeWork NSW and the local council in relation to this matter.
“Counselling and support have been offered to the student and his family and is available to any others who may have witnessed the incident.”
The boy’s mother, Kellie Kuczynski told the ABC she was “devastated” when she heard her son Blade had been involved in an incident with the school’s support dog, Buddy.
She said the school principal had Buddy on the lead when Blade asked if he could “cuddle” Buddy.
“He put his arms up around the dog’s neck to cuddle it, and it just mauled him,” Kuczynski said.
Kuczynski told the ABC Blade was taken to a medical centre for treatment of the cuts to his face but was directed to the emergency department at Shoalhaven Hospital.
“He looked very white, very pale, like he didn’t know what was happening,” she said.
“He had blood all over the collar of his shirt.”
A Shoalhaven City Council spokesperson said the dog regularly attends classes with children under the supervision of the teacher and is not considered to be dangerous.
“Council will continue to support Safe Work NSW with its detailed investigation to determine any action that’s necessary,” they said.
A SafeWork NSW spokesperson said the authority it “working with Department of Education and Training and no further comment can be made at this time”.
Any further action in relation to the dog is the responsibility of the local council.
Schools in NSW must follow the support dog guidelines.
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.