Pit bull terrier savages its female owner in Moturoa, New Zealand

New Plymouth animal control officers capture a dog after another dog was shot for attacking its owner.

A police officer shot a pit bull dog as it savaged its female owner in her suburban backyard yesterday.

The woman underwent surgery at Taranaki Base Hospital yesterday for lacerations to her face and arms.

A family spokesman said the woman was not only distressed about what happened to her, but was equally upset at what had happened to her dogs.

Two other dogs were not involved in the attack but were taken away by New Plymouth District Council animal control officers. Their fate was uncertain last night.

The dogs were her beloved pets, the family spokesman said.

"She walked them every day. They were her babies. She's distraught," he said.

Police were called to the Simons St home, in Moturoa, about 9.30am by the woman's neighbour after they saw the victim being savaged in her backyard by one of her three dogs.

Acting Taranaki area commander Detective Inspector Keith Borrell said the dog was still attacking the woman when police arrived.

"She had already sustained substantial bite marks to her arms, legs and face."

Borrell said a police officer killed the dog with a single shot from a Glock pistol to prevent further harm to the woman.

"Due to the decisive and swift actions of the attending officers, the victim was saved from sustaining more serious injuries," Borrell said.

Initial inquiries suggested one dog was responsible for the attack, but the two other dogs were taken away by a local animal control officer as a precaution, he said. The family spokesman said the woman was distraught at the morning's events and how aggravation between her dogs had escalated.

"We understand she was attempting to separate the dogs.

"The last thing anyone should do in such a situation is get between fighting animals but, when you really love your pets, you understandably want to prevent them hurting themselves. That put her in an horrific situation."

While her injuries to her face and arms are bad, they could have been much worse, he said.

"We are thankful that wasn't the case and hopeful that with the prompt attention she has received and plenty of support from family and friends she will make a quick recovery," he said.

"Friends and workmates have already been around to the house to clean up after the attack and we are very grateful for that help.

"We just need to give her time and space now to recover and come to terms with what she went through."

New Plymouth District Council animal control officer Murray Williams said they were alerted by police.

Williams said police had just shot the offending dog, a pit bull, when animal control arrived at the property.

The two other dogs, a pit bull and a lab cross, had suffered wounds from fighting with each other and were impounded as a precaution.

Neighbour Erica O'Keefe heard "a bang" just after 9am but she had not gone out to investigate the noise.

"I stayed inside because I was scared," she said.

O'Keefe said she did not know the victim well but they would sometimes greet each other when the owners took their dogs out for walks.

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