Dog victim's long road to recovery

The last pig dog bitch is loaded into a truck by Animal Control officer Eric Teaukura. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Margit Christensen will require skin grafts for the wounds caused by an attack by eight pig dogs.

Waikato Hospital emergency physician Dr John Bonning said dogs don't cut, but tear skin, leaving "horrific scarring".

Mrs Christensen will need pain relief and bleeding control in the next few weeks and will have her scalp and leg reconstructed.

After a nine-hour operation she was in a stable condition and speaking freely with her doctors yesterday.

Plastics surgery registrar Dr Katerina Anesti said the fact that she rolled into the fetal position may have saved her life. "[In this position] major organs were spared, and her face, neck, heart were protected."

"She was almost covered by dog marks - some were quite extensive but there was no major damage to tissue or organs."