Akita bites the 7 year old daughter during the adoption visit at CA Romoland Convent

A 7-year-old girl visiting a shelter in Southern California with her family to adopt a dog needed 1,000 stitches after one of the dogs bit her face, KABC reported.

The attack took place on May 26 in the A Passion for Paws kennel Akita Rescue in Romoland, California, announced the Desert Sun.

Riverside County Animal Control Officers stated that a dog, identified as a two-year-old Akita belonging to a private kennel, had been thrown at the girl and had bitten her at face, reported the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

The incident occurred around noon when the family visited the dog to consider adopting it, the Desert Sun reported. He had been rescued from a shelter in the Los Angeles area in February.

The girl was operated on three hours after the attack, KABC reported.

"His injuries were quite shocking because his injuries were in his face," said John Welsh, spokesman for the county's animal services department, the Desert Sun reported. "It's terrible when these attacks affect children."

Animal control officials say it's the fifth serious bite of recent years at the private kennel, KABC reported.

The kennel owner refused to euthanize the dog, which was quarantined, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported. The owner stated that the dog had never been aggressive in the past.

At an audition Thursday on the opportunity to destroy the dog, a kennel witness said that the girl had approached the dog's face despite a warning to his parents against such actions, reported the Desert Sun.

A decision on the fate of the animal could be made Monday, reported The Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Romoland is about 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

A foot passion, Akita Rescue, says this non-profit, non-profit shelter has saved more than 1,000 Akitas and other dogs since it opened in 2006.