Dog attack victim back home after 'spectacular' recovery

Animal Control officer Eric Teaukura rounding up the dogs earlier this month after the brutal attack. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A Waikato woman who did not think she would survive a frenzied attack by eight pig hunting dogs has returned home after making a "spectacular" recovery.

Putaruru dairy farmer Maggie Christensen, 36, was out running on August 3 when she was set upon by the young bull terrier-cross pack on a rural road not far from her home.

She thought they would kill her.

"I prayed I would die quickly, that it wouldn't take long," said told The Waikato Times.

She said she felt the dogs biting into the back of her neck, her scalp, her ear, and knew it wouldn't take long for them to get to her throat.

She instinctively curled into the foetal position to protect herself as they continued the attack.

Mrs Christensen said she thought it was about 15 minutes before the dogs were called off by their owner, Tara Tuhakaraina.

Her husband Sven, who arrived at the scene before emergency services, described finding his wife as a "big blob of blood".

Hospital staff said Mrs Christensen's injuries were the most extensive and extreme they had seen from dog bites.

She had an initial nine hours of reconstructive surgery and subsequently six skin grafts.

However, she has healed quickly, and on Wednesday returned home to daughters Antonia, 10, and Karla, 8, leaving hospital with only a single crutch for extra support.

Nurse Dana Herman, who helped care for Mrs Christensen, said her progress was rewarding for staff.

"It is a spectacular recovery, we thought it would take far longer," she told the newspaper.

Mrs Christensen said she wanted to send a strong message to people, urging them to "have a good think about why you have a dog".

The dogs involved in the attack have since been destroyed and Tuhakaraina, 29, is facing charges.

- NZPA