Tauranga man attacked by his own dogs

A Tauranga man horrifically injured by his two dogs is undergoing surgery in Waikato Hospital this afternoon.

The 34-year-old man was savaged by the dogs, described as "pitbull types", at his Hairini home about 6am today.

Ambulance officers found him badly hurt and covered in blood, while the highly agitated dogs were in another part of the house.

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

The victim, who had serious head and arm injuries, was initially taken to Tauranga Hospital but was transferred to Waikato Hospital for specialist care late this morning.

He had been assessed before being taken to theatre for surgery, Waikato Hospital spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said this afternoon.

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.

Police said they were not yet able to determine why the dogs had attacked the man.

DOG ATTACKS

Late last month, a five-year-old girl was hospitalised with facial injuries after being attacked in Whakatane, while former All White Stu Jacobs suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a bull mastiff in Wellington.

In Wairoa, a three-year-old girl needed over 20 stitches to her face after she too was attacked by a pit bull.

The string of attacks have seen calls for a review of the dog control laws.

- With NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News