Oliver savaged in pitbull attack

ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News

PITBULL VICTIM: Gina Paul, of New Plymouth, nurses Oliver the border terrier yesterday after he was attacked by a pitbull at Ngamotu Beach.

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A vicious pitbull attack at Ngamotu Beach in New Plymouth yesterday has left Oliver the tiny border terrier battling for his life.

Oliver and his owner Gina Paul were taking a walk near the beach about 2.30pm when a rogue pitbull lunged, unprovoked, and grabbed the 10-year-old little dog by the throat.

Nearby resident Shirley Johnston said she was standing on her balcony and heard Mrs Paul screaming.

"I grabbed my binoculars to see what was going on, " she said.

"The big dog just wouldn't let go of the little one, it was awful, I couldn't do anything."

Mrs Paul said she couldn't remember much of the attack, but at one point Oliver got free so she picked him up. "But the pitbull jumped up and grabbed him out of my arms again.

"It was just unbelievably horrible, Oliver was just crouched on the ground, in the foetal position, while the dog bit him," Mrs Paul said.

A number of men came to help, including one who suffered a bite to the hand when he tried to prise the dog's jaw open. Out of options, one of the men got an axe and whacked the dog with the handle, finally freeing Oliver for good.

The rescuers then took a shaken Mrs Paul and a heavily bleeding Oliver to the New Plymouth Vet Group, where he was treated by vet Anna Terrill and put on an intra-venous drip.

"It's touch and go he has a number of wounds to his neck and there's severe soft tissue damage," Mrs Terrill said.

"He's gone home for the night but we've left the drip in to help."

Mrs Paul was to stay up through the night with the little dog, as he was struggling at times to breathe and in a lot of pain despite the medication.

New Plymouth District Council enforcement manager Lloyd Crow said a dog control officer had been unable to find the pitbull.

It wasn't known who the dog's owner was, Mr Crow said.

The council would continue to try to find the dog tomorrow, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News