The two large dogs which attacked two women in Invercargill on Monday have been destroyed.
They were euthanised yesterday morning, Invercargill City Council environmental health and compliance manager John Youngson said.
It was the best thing that could have happened, given the severity of the attack, he said.
''It is probably the worst incident we have ever had in Invercargill.''
Jennifer Shaw (65) and her friend Lorraine Turner, in her 70s, were jumped on by the dogs at the corner of Henderson and Albany Sts, South Invercargill, just before noon on Monday. They were knocked to the ground and bitten.
Mrs Turner received a broken arm and multiple bite wounds, while Mrs Shaw was bitten on a knee. Some of the wounds required stitches.
The pair were taken to Southland Hospital but discharged the same day.
When told the dogs had been put down, Mrs Turner said: ''Good. It was absolutely the best thing to do''.
The dogs, which had moved into Henderson St with their owners a few weeks before Christmas, were often seen out on the street by neighbours and council animal control officers had visited the house before following up complaints.
Mrs Shaw said the dogs were ''savage'' and had to be put down.
''If the owners can't play by the rules ... then they don't deserve to have them. The neighbourhood will be able to sleep well now.''
Mr Youngson said the owners handed the dogs over to animal control officers on Monday in the knowledge the dogs would probably be euthanased.
If they had not done so, the council would have had to go to court and let a judge decide whether the animals should be destroyed.
Mrs Shaw said she and Mrs Turner had been walking together every Monday for about 20 years. They often walked in the Henderson St area, near Mrs Shaw's home, but had not seen the dogs before.
She said she did not sleep well on Monday night.
''Every time I shut my eyes I saw the dogs biting Lorraine and me trying to help her.''
Neighbour Mario Castellani rushed to their aid, waving a pick-axe handle and shouting at the dogs until they returned home, while other neighbours called emergency services and helped the women.
Mrs Shaw thanked everyone.
''I don't know what would have happened if they hadn't been there.''
