A middle-aged Dunedin woman has undergone extensive leg surgery after being mauled by three Irish wolfhounds while delivering newspapers on Walter Street.
The three large dogs set upon her after she fell to the ground in fright early yesterday morning.
Her partner who was also delivering papers nearby at the time, says she rolled down a bank and the dogs "took to her".
Some residents came to her aid, including Deb Wade who called emergency services.
She rushed outside after hearing loud screams and shouts, and saw a man leaning over a woman in great distress in her neighbour's driveway.
"I really wasn't sure what had happened," says Ms Wade. As she moved towards the pair she saw the horrific wound in the woman's leg which she described as resembling a shark attack.
"The whole calf was gone and there was bits of torn flesh and skin hanging off it," she says.
"It was a severe wound, I've never seen a wound like that before."
Another person put a tourniquet around her leg, and the ambulance service advised them to use towels to stem the blood flow, and to elevate the leg. The woman also suffered minor injuries to her arms which she used to try and defend herself.
The owner of the dogs was reportedly shaken and distressed by the incident and has taken full responsibility. He took them back to his property after the attack, but all three of the Irish wolfhounds have since been put down by the Dunedin City Council's Animal Control team.
The Council has confirmed it will be seeking a prosecution against the owner, after assessing police notes from the time of the incident and their own investigation.
The woman is expected to require further operations, including plastic surgery. She could struggle to walk again or be as active, affecting her work opportunities.
3 News
