A YOUNGSTER savaged by a Japanese dog was saved from more serious injury when his mother fought it off with a broom handle.

Three-year-old Mackenzie Harvey needed surgery to a badly broken arm after he was thrown around like a rag doll by the stray akita.

His mother, Michelle Tindall, had to use all her strength and courage to fight to save her son.

The mother-of-three said: "It was absolutely terrifying.

"The dog just grabbed him and started shaking him.

"Heaven only knows what could have happened to him.

"All I could think was how do I get it to let go. I just grabbed the broom and started hitting it as hard as I could.

"When the dog dropped him, I grabbed him as quickly as I could and ran in the house with him covered in blood.

"I know it sounds weird, but he was really lucky that the dog only grabbed his arm, because if it had been his head or throat, he would not be here today.

"I just want to know who the dog's owner is. It has been wandering in and out of our garden for a week and it has never been any trouble, but this time it just turned and grabbed Mackenzie."

The incident took place in Cranberry, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

The dog was taken away by police officers at about 9pm after Miss Tindall trapped it in the rear garden of their home.

Mackenzie was treated at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and has to return next week to see if the bone is healing. If it is not, he may have to have a metal rod inserted in his arm.

On their return from hospital, Miss Tindall said: "When he was getting out of the car when he got home, he asked 'Is the nasty dog gone mam?'"

Mackenzie is no stranger to akitas. His mother's sister owns one, as does one of her friends.

Miss Tindall's 15-year-old son, Aaron, had fed the dog on several occasions and had tried to find the owners.

His mother is keen to re- introduce Mackenzie to the dogs to prevent him becoming frightened of them.

Akitas are a large dog bred in Japan from ancient ancestry and were originally used to hunt deer, wild boar and bears.

They can be as high as 27in at the shoulder and weigh 75lb to 110lb.

Anyone with information about the owner of the animal is asked to call police on 01642-303417.