A week-old baby girl is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery for injuries she suffered when she was attacked by the family dog on Sydney’s south-western outskirts.

Paramedics were called to the home in Campbelltown about 3:30am after the baby girl was bitten on the face by the family’s Alaskan Malamute.

Police Superintendent Wayne Benson said the child’s father heard the child screaming from her bassinet.

• ‘Mourning and healing’ at massacre church
• Russell Crowe pic on racist manifesto site

“The mother’s woken to feed the young baby, she’s fed bubs, put bubs back in the bassinet,” he said.

“Then the father’s heard the baby screaming, looked up and saw the dog, the family dog leaning into the bassinet…and then he’s taken action from there.”

Police said she suffered serious injuries to her face and was taken to Campbelltown Hospital before being taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, where she underwent surgery.

Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening but a hospital spokeswoman said the infant was in a serious condition.

The infant’s distraught parents are by her bedside at the hospital, Superintendent Benson said.

The baby girl was bitten on the face by the Alaskan Malamute (left) while she was sleeping in her bassinet. Photo: ABC

“We’re all parents and you can only imagine what that poor family is going through at present.”

The Alaskan Malamute is a domestic dog that is similar to arctic breeds like the Siberian Husky, but heavier in structure and bred for power and endurance.

Superintendent Benson said the dog was a loved family pet who lived inside the home.

“The bottom line of it is that sometimes these things occur; they’re terrible accidents,” he said.

“They are family pets, cherished members of the family.”

Neighbour Dennis Pallos said the attack came as a shock as the dog was normally quite placid.

“The dogs are fantastic … it’s just one of those things that can happen,” he said.

“They are a lovely young couple and I suppose we’ve just got to be wary about these things. It’s just a shock.

“If someone walks by the house [the dog] gives a little bark like our dog does, but that’s it, you wouldn’t call it an aggressive animal.”

Campbelltown Council said it would contact the family in the next few days to determine whether they want to surrender the dog.

If the owners decide not to surrender the animal, council will investigate and decide whether to declare the dog dangerous, because the Alaskan Malamute is not regarded as a dangerous breed.

If declared dangerous, restrictions could be put in place to ensure the dog is kept in an enclosure.

Don’t leave dogs alone with kids under 9: vet

Veterinarian Kersti Seksel said dogs needed to be carefully introduced to new additions to the family.

“What we recommend you do is that you bring the child’s dirty nappies home beforehand,” she said.

“You get [the dog] used to having the sounds of a child around just to see how they might react.”

Dr Seksel said no child under nine should be left alone with a dog.

The dog is still at the family home and Campbelltown City Council staff are yet to speak with the family.

Superintendent Benson said the police were working with the council on the appropriate steps of action in relation to the dog.

“Our main emphasis, the family’s main emphasis, and I imagine the community’s main emphasis is making sure that bub is OK,” he said.

According to the council, the dog may be declared dangerous – which would place restrictions on the animal.

Alternatively, the owners may decide to surrender the dog and in that case it would be euthanased.