The owner of the dog that bit a three-year-old boy in the face while he was playing in the yard of a Matapihi home is facing charges.

Tauranga Police Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair says the 41-year-old unemployed man has been charged with owning a dog which causes serious injury and will appear in Tauranga District Court on April 17.

The adult male pitbull-cross that attacked a three-year-old boy remains in the Tauranga City Council pound.

The adult male pitbull-cross remains at the Tauranga City Council Pound pending the outcome of the charge.

The three-year-old Hastings toddler was bitten once on the face by the pitbull-cross at a Waikari Road property about 8.40am last Thursday and rushed to Tauranga Hospital.

After spending Thursday and Friday in Tauranga Hospital, the toddler was later discharged from the children's ward.

Since the attack police have been speaking to neighbours and witnesses to the incident along with investigating whether the dog has any previous attacks.

The boy, from Hastings, was playing in the yard near the dog when he was bitten. It is understood the boy and his parents were visiting relatives at the property, who own the dog.

The dog was seized by animal control officers after the incident. It is registered with council but is not micro chipped.