The dog was probably playing when he nipped TV news anchor Kyle Dyer in the face live on the air. But Dyer will have to undergo reconstructive facial surgery to repair the damage.

The veteran KUSA-TV anchor in Denver, Colorado, was rushed to a local hospital after being bitten in the face by a 86-pound mastiff who was pulled out of a freezing pond by a firefighter 3 days before.

The dog and the firefighter were being reunited on the set, when Dyer leaned in too close to pet the mutt. The dog’s owner, who is black, yanked the dog’s chain to get him off the anchor, but he later admitted the dog did not have his rabies shots.

Watch the video after the break. WARNING: graphic content!

Source: DM