SYLVA - The mother of a 7-year-old boy says her son was mauled by a dog and suffered 60 bites to his neck, throat and face and can't talk because of a punctured voice box.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported Sunday that Dalton Mathis remained in critical but stable condition at Mission Hospital, where officials weren't available for further comment Sunday evening.

Jennifer Roberts says Dalton arrived home from school Thursday afternoon, dropped off his book bag and went back outside before a 100-pound Shar-Pei-chow mix attacked him. Roberts says the dog had broken free from its chain.

"The dog has never been violent before," Roberts said. "It was raised around kids. The dog just a few days ago was playing with the kids."

State Highway Patrol troopers and Jackson County sheriff's deputies tried to keep the dog contained for animal control officers before the deputies had to shoot it.

Roberts says Dalton will need several surgeries.