'Blood was just pouring out' - rottweiler tears off shop worker's lip

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A pet store assistant lost her lip in a dog attack at a "bring in your Rottweilers" promotion in West Auckland yesterday.

The attack happened about 11am at Animates in Westgate.

A horrified witness told the Weekend Herald he was talking to the dog's owner at the shop counter when the female assistant - believed to be in her early 20s - leant down to give the dog a treat.

"He just latched on to her face. It was horrific. Blood was just pouring out. One of the other girls said her lip was basically pulled off.

"On the floor was a tooth, either from the girl or the dog."

He said the owner pulled his dog away immediately and put him in the back of his car before going back inside to check on the woman.

The victim was taken to Waitakere Hospital by car and later transferred to Middlemore.

Spokeswoman Lauren Young said the woman was last night in the emergency department with facial injuries which were not thought to be life-threatening but might require attention from plastic surgeons.

Animal Control says the promotion - which invited owners to bring in their Rottweilers in return for free dog food - was "not a good look".

Waitakere City Council's manager of animal welfare, Neil Wells, said staff had spoken to the owner but the dog would not be destroyed.

"The dog is back at home, he is secure and we are not intending to take any direct action concerning the dog.

"The owner didn't do anything wrong. He had the dog properly contained on a lead and the staff member put herself into the territory of the dog," Mr Wells said.

An Animal Control officer had seen CCTV footage of the attack and there were other dogs in the store at the time but not at the counter.

"We consider the promotion by Animates not well thought out and had the potential for going wrong," Mr Wells said. "Bringing a lot of especially Rottweilers into one place at one time ... was not a good idea ... I think Animates now understand that ... They regretted the whole thing."

Animates general manager Richard Bowker said a review of safety measures for staff and visitors during pet visits was under way.

"The dog and its owner were visiting the store as part of a free dog food promotion for Rottweiler breed-specific premium dog food. Animates has discontinued the promotion."

Mr Bowker said the firm deeply regretted the attack and was doing all it could to support the staff member.

Occupational Safety and Health is investigating.