A dog and its female owner have been seriously injured during an attack by another dog in Oamaru, the seventh reported dog attack in Waitaki in two weeks.
Waitaki District Council animal control is appealing for information from the public to help find the attacker - believed to be a mastiff/bulldog-cross.
''This is not a dog we want to remain unidentified,'' Waitaki District Council regulatory services manager Lichelle Guyan said.
The ''serious attack'' took place about 4pm on Monday on a private property in Eden St and caused substantial injuries, requiring surgery, to a Maltese-Bichon Frise-cross dog.
''We understand the dog survived the night and is being monitored closely,'' Mrs Guyan said.
The female owner was injured while attempting to help her dog, but was not bitten. She was taken to Dunedin Hospital.
''Something happened that resulted in her needing to be hospitalised,'' Mrs Guyan said.
The incident was reported to the council by an associate of the female victim.
Mrs Guyan said she hoped to speak to the victim about the attack once she was discharged from hospital.
''We will continue to monitor the situation and the progress [of the victims] as we are able,'' she said.
Four of the seven reported dog attacks in Waitaki since December 22 were on stock and other dogs. The other three attacks were on people and were under investigation, Mrs Guyan said.
In two instances, medical treatment was sought from A&E. In all instances, the offending dog was a mastiff-cross, she said.
''It is disappointing that we continue to see a high number of attacks.''
Waitaki animal control received 58 reports from December 22 to last Monday, with 60% about wandering dogs.
Anyone with information about Monday's attack is urged to contact animal control on (03) 433-0300.
