“If I hadn’t been home, I worry about what could have happened. He [the father] lay bleeding right there,” she said, pointing to her driveway where evidence of the attack was visible.
The neighbour said she knew the dogs’ owners and had never had any trouble with the animals.
“They’re respectful. They’re not just dogs, they’re like children. They’re treated as part of the family.
“It’s a freak accident,” she said, adding that there was blood “everywhere” after.
Police confirmed a 40-year-old woman has been summonsed to appear in court under the Dog Control Act after the attack.
Christchurch City Council said it had not previously received complaints about the dogs.
“The dogs have been impounded pending an ongoing police investigation,” the council said in a statement.
“The owner may voluntarily surrender the dogs for euthanasia or, on conviction, the court must grant an order for destruction unless the owner can demonstrate exceptional circumstances as to why the dogs should not be destroyed.”
Fendalton councillor David Cartwright earlier described the attack as tragic.
“My absolute thoughts go out to everybody involved, the family, and even the first responders having to come and attend to them,” he said.
“It’s a disastrous, tragic event.”
Cartwright said, to the best of his knowledge, Christchurch had not seen many recent serious dog attacks.
He said the council’s dog bylaw was regularly reviewed.
“I will be asking staff to have a look at the current bylaws to ensure they are fit for purpose,” he said.
The incident was days after 62-year-old Mihiata Te Rore was killed in an attack involving three dogs at a Kaihu property on State Highway 12 in Northland last week.
She was attacked while visiting someone she knew in the Kaipara settlement.
Kaipara District Council has confirmed the dogs will be destroyed.
