A Bay Of Plenty woman had her scalp torn off by an American pitbull dog after it joined in on an attack allegedly started by her sister.
Kawerau woman Liz Smith, aged 52, was left with puncture wounds and bruising all over her body after the attack which happened when she was visiting her sister at her Welcome Bay home early on Saturday morning, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.
She was taken to Tauranga Hospital and had surgery before being discharged on Monday.
Ms Smith's sister Phillipa Bayley, 54, the pitbull's owner, is alleged to have started the attack and appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Ms Smith alleges the attack happened about 2am after they spent the night discussing "issues".
The attack lasted for about 20 minutes before police arrived, she said.
The dog "was not going to stop" and she was "very lucky" to survive the attack, she said.
She wanted to speak about her ordeal so the public knew how dangerous the breed of dog was.
Bayley was remanded on bail without plea until June 3.
