Pitbull owner's injuries 'pretty horrific' - police

File Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Two dogs have been shot dead by police in the home of their owner after an attack left the man covered in blood with horrific injuries.

The dogs, described as "pitbull types", attacked their 34-year-old Tauranga owner in his home at Hairini about 6am today.

Ambulance officers called police and police shot both dogs dead, saying they were too dangerous and posed a risk to anyone who got near them.

Ambulance officers then entered the house to find the man covered in blood.

The victim, who had serious head and arm injuries, was taken to Tauranga Hospital but police said he may need to be transferred to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

Senior Sergeant Rob Glencross from Tauranga police said the man's injuries were "pretty horrific.

"He was in a pretty bad way when they (ambulance officers) got there."

And by the time police arrived the man was "pretty well on the verge of unconsciousness."

The man had yet to be interviewed because he was still heavily medicated.

He said the dogs had not calmed down when police arrived and they had to be shot.

"It appears the gentleman had been able to get the dogs corralled into a part of the house so when the guys got there they were able to very easily, just by closing some doors, make the scene safe and secure the dogs in one part of the house while they attended the man in another part," Mr Glencross said.

He said the damage pitbull dogs and pitbull-type dogs could do was "quite horrific".

It was not known if the dogs had been trained for fighting.

- NZPA