Dog attack in Mount Maunganui

UPDATE 12.20pm: Tauranga Animal Control have just confirmed the dog involved in an attack on an elderly man and his pet bichon in Mount Maunganui this morning was in fact a bull terrier not a pit-bull as initially reported by police.

EARLIER: A 73-year-old man has suffered bites and scratches and his bichon dog will be put down after the pair were attacked by a pit-bull this morning.

Police were called to the attack in Grenada St, Mount Maunganui about 9:05am this morning.

Read more: Bay boy, 6, attacked by dog

The man was walking with an 80-year-old woman and their Bichon dog when they were attacked by the loose pit-bull.

The pit-bull attacked the bichon and then attacked the man as he tried to separate the dogs.

Members of the public ran to assist and were able to restrain the pit-bull dog using wire until police arrived.

The man suffered bites to his hands and cuts and scratches to his legs from wrestling with the pit-bull. His injuries did not require hospitalisation.

The couple's bichon was taken to the vets and will be put down as a result of the severe injures it sustained.

The pit-bull dog was seized by animal control who are working with police and investigating the matter.

The dog is micro chipped and animal control will follow up with the registered owner.