Following the attack of a 4 year-old boy in Phoenix, a pit bull named Mickey is facing punishment by death at the hands of the area animal control unit.

Following the attack of a 4 year-old boy in Phoenix, a pit bull named Mickey is facing punishment by death at the hands of the area animal control unit.

Supporters of the dog and the breed have since rallied to save the canine’s life.

The Facebook page dedicated to the dog’s cause has garnered over 40 thousand likes, and there is a fundraising campaign in place to help raise the funds needed for legal representation.

Kevin Vicente, the boy who was mauled, suffered a broken eye socket, shattered jaw, and deep lacerations.

Doctors say the sight of his injuries was too much for many, including several seasoned hospital workers, to stomach.

The boy has had reconstructive surgery, the first of many, but it’s believed permanent disfigurement is inevitable. For now, he relies on feeding and breathing tubes.

At the time of the attack, Mickey was chained in a yard and sitting next to a bone.

The dog attacked when Kevin reached down and grabbed that bone.

Mickey’s supporters say their efforts to save him aren’t in any way meant to diminish the value of the child’s life, but to emphasize that the dog is not fully at fault.