Enraged dog attacks helpers | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A pit bull described by a witness as an "eating machine" has been destroyed after escaping its yard and savagely attacking another dog, before turning on terrified onlookers.

The attack happened at 8.25pm on Tuesday after the pit bull, which had escaped from a house on Jones Place, latched on to the muzzle of a three-legged staffordshire terrier cross being walked on a lead by its female owner on Colombo Rd.

A witness to the attack, Colombo Rd resident Peter Talbot, said the attack was terrifying, and described the pit bull as an "eating machine".

"It just latched on to the other dog and wouldn't let go ... There was just blood everywhere," Mr Talbot said. "We've got white walls and there was just blood all over it."

About 30 people had gone to see what was going on, with several stepping in and trying to separate the dogs.

"It went on for about 10 minutes. We tried everything [to stop it], we tried seven or eight buckets of water, we tried a fire extinguisher, but nothing [worked]."

Eventually a man with a cast on his leg used his crutch to undo the pit bull's grip: "If it wasn't for him it would have been a lot worse," Mr Talbot said.

When its grip was freed, the pit bull had turned on onlookers, rushing at people and sending them fleeing on to car bonnets and jumping over fences.

Mr Talbot said he had seen the dog roaming before and it was well known to people in the area.

Another neighbour who contacted the Times-Age agreed, saying the pit bull had escaped on numerous occasions, roaming the neighbourhood and menacing other animals.

Masterton District Council chief executive Wes ten Hove said council records showed just one previous instance of reported roaming for the pit bull in 2009, with no records of aggressive behaviour on their books.

The dog was registered with the council, and as a pit bull was included on the list of menacing dogs by breed.

Mr ten Hove said animal-control staff arrived quickly at the scene on Tuesday, and the pit bull was surrendered to the council by its owner, and put down at the Masterton pound on Wednesday.

The pit bull's owner had been horrified at its behaviour and surrendered ownership immediately.

"It was taken to the pound and further investigated by staff, [but] it remained completely aggressive and wanted to have a go at everything.

"And whatever triggered the red spots in front of his face certainly remained.

"Whilst it's unfortunate for the dog and for the owners, we wouldn't have been comfortable with the dog being around in the future."

The staffordshire terrier had received a gash to its front leg and puncture wounds around its mouth, with its owner satisfied "at this stage" with the way the pit bull had been dealt with.