Elderly man has hand partially ripped off in dog attack

An elderly man's hand was partially ripped off as he tried to defend his pet fox terrier dog from being attacked by two rottweilers in a Levin street.

And a neighbour, who ran from a nearby house in his underpants to help was also attacked and left with puncture wounds when the dogs went for his neck.

Ross Hosie, 75, was rushed to Palmerston North Hospital to have a finger, left dangling by a piece of skin, reattached.

His dog Shadow was treated by a Levin veterinarian for numerous bite wounds.

The two rottweilers were taken into custody by a Horowhenua District Council animal control ranger .

The attack happened as Mr Hosie took Shadow for a walk yesterday morning.

"It was all so quick, they came out of nowhere and attacked Shadow," Mr Hosie recalled today.

"I remember trying to get Shadow out of it and those dogs biting and tearing at him, it was horrible and frightening."

The neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he picked up Shadow and threw him over a fence to safety before he was also bitten.

He said he had just woken up when he heard a "hell of a noise" outside.

He looked out his bedroom window and saw Mr Hosie bending down trying to rescue his dog.

"I just didn't have time to get dressed or get something to help get the rotties away from him.

"I ran across the road in my boxers.

"By that time the foxie had managed to run on to another section, I ran after it and got between it and the two rotties and picked it up and threw it over a fence.

"While I was doing that I was screaming at the two dogs to go.

"There was so much noise and the adrenaline was pumping -- not through fear but anger.

"I mean the street is full of old people and lots of kids.

"If one of the kids had got tangled up in the middle of it they could have been killed."

The neighbour said he knew the rottweilers.

"You just don't go near them," he said.

The neighbour said that after he had rescued Shadow his wife had taken Mr Hosie home.

"He was holding his hand, blood pouring everywhere.

"Once we got him inside we washed it and wrapped it in a towel until the ambulance arrived and they took over."

The council's regulatory business unit manager Mike Lepper said today the owner of the rottweilers had agreed the dogs should be detained pending an investigation.

"We will be taking statements from both men and we would like to speak to anyone else who witnessed the attack.

"Once our investigation is complete a decision will be made over what charges will be laid," Mr Lepper said.

- NZPA