A six-year-old girl suffered serious injuries to her face when she was savaged by a dog in a play garden at a Toby Carvery restaurant.
The animal was described as white in colour and similar to a pit bull or a Staffordshire bull terrier.
The girl was mauled by the dog while playing in the pub's outdoor garden in Ewell, Surrey, at around 4pm on Sunday.
She was taken to Epsom General Hospital and police were then alerted that a child had suffered "serious facial injuries" after being bitten by a dog.
Surrey Police have said her injuries could have been "a lot more serious".
The force is appealing for witnesses after the owner left the scene with the dog.
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PC James Butcher, of Surrey Police, said: "Due to the nature of this incident, the injuries sustained could have been a lot more serious.
"We are keen to speak to the owner of the dog and urge anyone with any information to get in contact with us."
He added: "Police received a call from Epsom General Hospital, reporting that a child had suffered serious facial injuries after being bitten by a dog.
"The child was playing outside in the restaurant garden along Cheam Road around 4pm when she was attacked.
"The dog is described as white and similar to a pit bull or a Staffordshire bull terrier.
"We would also like to speak to the owner of the dog, who is described as male, white, in his late 20s and around 6ft tall."
A spokesperson for Toby Carvery said: "We’re very disappointed this happened in our garden and we’d like to offer our thoughts to the child and her family.”
