HOUSTON -- The father of an infant whose genitals were severed in what his mother said was an attack by the family dachshund says he is spending as much time as possible at his son's side, and is pressing for full custody of the baby.

The two weeks since Holden, now seven weeks old, was injured have been "agonizing and grinding," said Camden Gothia, who spoke to reporters following a brief, unresolved custody hearing. "It's unimaginable."

Holden remains in critical condition at a Houston hospital since the March 13 attack, but has been taken off a ventilator and is breathing on his own. He has undergone several surgeries and will likely face more.

Gothia, 36, flanked by his attorney and extended family, choked back tears several times as he spoke about his son's medical ordeal.

"He is progressing, but I need to be with him," said Gothia, an assistant supervisor at a chemical plant. "I'll take whatever I can get, but I would rather have unsupervised visitation so that I can be there in every spare moment that I have."

Harris County Child Protective Services took emergency custody of Holden after his mother, who is not married to Gothia, said she woke up from a nap to find the family's dachshund standing over the mutilated baby. She ran to a neighbor's house for help, and an ambulance took the baby to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

But doctors have said that the infant's injuries are inconsistent with dog bites. Harris County Animal Control, which has custody of the dachshund, is searching for any evidence that might connect the animal to the incident.

CPS said last week that the mother had tested positive for cocaine and methadone a day after the child was injured. Houston police officials said she has not yet given a statement to investigators about the incident. Gothia is cooperating with police, they said.

Gothia is currently allowed to visit Holden with supervision. The baby's mother is not allowed to see him. At Monday's hearing, state District Judge Mike Schneider agreed to allow supervised visitation for both grandmothers and one of Gothia's sisters, who has also expressed interest in winning custody of the baby.

The custody hearing was rescheduled for April 9 at the request of the mother, who has entered an inpatient treatment program in Texarkana, according to her attorney, Itze Soliz-Matthews.

"The mother has gone in-patient, but we are going to be back in about two weeks," she said.

Soliz-Matthews declined further comment. The mother's name has not been released.

Gothia said he has not been in contact with Holden's mother "for some time." The two had been living together when the incident occurred.

The judge ordered Gothia to undergo psychological evaluation and a DNA test to establish paternity, a routine procedure in custody cases involving unmarried couples, said CPS spokeswoman Estella Olguin.

Gothia said a fund has been set up to help cover the costs of Holden's long-term medical care. The infant, who has already undergone several surgeries, will likely face more. At one point, doctors thought one of his legs would have to be amputated because of infection, but now say that will not be necessary, Gothia said.

"Every waking moment is dedicated to getting unsupervised visits with my son and getting him home," Gothia said. "He's got a long road ahead."

Donations can be made at any Woodforest National Bank under the name of Baby Holden.

Houston police said there was nothing new to report on the investigation into what happened to Holden.