A Reporoa woman mauled by 12 pig hunting dogs credits the brave actions of a Rotorua woman for saving her life.
Barbara Podgajna was walking along Settlers Rd near Reporoa village recently when she was attacked by the dogs of various breeds.
"They ran across the road at me on the footpath
and started barking and and then they were biting me," Mrs Podgajna said.
"I was screaming my lungs out so everybody could hear me and the owner was there trying to help but he couldn't do anything, they were in too much of a frenzy."
About three cars had stopped during the 10-minute attack but those in the cars stayed where they were parked.
"One guy stopped and got out but when he saw what was happening he got back in and drove off."
It was only after Mrs Podgajna's "angel" arrived that she was finally able to escape.
"A lady from Rotorua called Aroha Barnes got out of her car and started kicking the dogs.
"She pulled the main dog by the hind legs and drove me home and called the police straight away. She was my little angel," she said.
"She said she had been watching the National Geographic channel and is passionate about dogs and she knew what to do. She knew that you had to grab them by the legs.
"Thank God I didn't take my kids for walk like I usually do, I don't want to think what would have happened."
Mrs Podgajna suffered 12 lacerations to her legs about 2.5cm long and 1.2cm deep. She had to take time off work as a mathematics teacher at Reporoa College because of the swelling.
The experience has left her now terrified of dogs. "I've stopped walking from fear. I drive my car to school now and my house is only 400m away.
"When people try to talk to me about I just can't, it's too traumatic."
Mrs Podgajna and her husband Kris wanted to thank Ms Barnes and contacted The Daily Post.
"You're my angel and without you I don't know what I would have done," Mrs Podgajna said.
"All of our family is very grateful to you," her husband said.
The dogs have been taken away by the Rotorua District Council's Animal Control and the council's animal control supervisor, Kevin Coutts, said the owner was likely to be charged.
