Neighbour fights off dogs as they attack women

Photo / File

A heroic neighbour fought off a pair of bull mastiff-cross dogs mauling two women out for a walk in South Invercargill this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to Albany St, Kingswell at noon, with the women taken to nearby Southland Hospital with moderate dog bites, a St John spokesman said.

One woman suffered bites to her leg and arm, while the other had bites to her leg.

Invercargill City Council environmental health and compliance manager, John Youngson said a neighbour saw two large mastiff-cross dogs rush from a house to attack the two women who were out on a walk.

The neighbour, who witnessed the attack, rushed over to beat off the attacking dogs with a stick.

"Council staff were shocked at the severity of this incident and we will be offering the victims support," Mr Youngson said.

The owners of the dogs had been contacted and agreed to hand over the two dogs to Animal Control Officers.

Both dogs were now in the Council's Animal Care Facility.

Only one of the dogs was registered. Owing to the severity of the attack, council would be exploring legal options available and were taking the matter "very seriously.''