Motorist saves dog savaged by pitbulls

A passing motorist came to the aid of a woman whose border collie cross was savaged by two pitbulls in Hastings yesterday afternoon, beating the animals off with an umbrella.

Constable Andrew Clinton of the Hastings police said the woman was walking her dog along Collinge Rd at about 1pm when two pitbulls ran out from an adjoining orchard and attacked her dog.

One clamped onto the hindquarters of the collie, while the other latched on to its throat. A passing motorist stopped and helped the woman wrestle her pet away from the two dogs.

"He has done this by repeatedly hitting both dogs over the head with an umbrella as they were in such a frenzied state and would not release their grip," Mr Clinton said.

The two dogs were accompanied by a young Maori woman, in her late teens or early 20s. She was left trying to restrain them on the side of the road. Neither dog was wearing a collar or a lead.

The border collie was taken to a vet for emergency surgery but its condition was not known.

Mr Clinton said the owner and her family were extremely upset "as the dog is a beloved family pet and is not aggressive in any way".

"The attack was totally unprovoked and she commented on what the outcome would have been if there was a small child walking past."

Police inquiries have so far failed to locate either the young woman or the dogs.

Investigators are interested in hearing from anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may know where the dogs live.

The dogs were described as either white or light coloured and of stocky build.

- NZPA