Police in Queensland have been credited with saving a woman’s life after her arm was severed by her own dog.
Officers applied a tourniquet after finding the woman, in her 30s, bleeding heavily outside her home in Townsville on Friday morning with an aggressive dog – believed to be a large Pitbull cross – inside.
The attack came a day after a woman was critically injured by a dog in Melbourne.
Applying the makeshift tourniquet “might have saved her life”, Sgt Scott Warrick said, before paramedics arrived. The detached arm was reportedly later found in the hope that it might be reattached.
The woman was taken to Townsville University Hospital where she was reportedly in a serious but stable condition.
“Her blood loss was quite extensive, and that tourniquet has pretty much ceased that blood loss,” Sgt Warrick told reporters.
“I commend them for their efforts under very high pressure situation.
Sgt Warrick said it was one of the most significant injuries from an animal he had seen in his 37-year career.
“This is the first time I’ve gone to such serious injury as a result of a dog attack,” he said. “The injuries to this lady are just absolutely awful and we wish her a speedy recovery.”
Police attempted to subdue the dog by trapping it inside the house.
“It was very angry, very aggressive…(it) was still trying to get outside,” Sgt Warrick said.
The dog continued to be aggressive and had to be euthanised at the scene.
“I have dogs, and to see an outcome like this is absolutely heartbreaking, and we do understand people will be upset,” Sgt Warrick said.
“But we were left with no other choice…it was as humane as possible. What we did today is an absolute last resort.”
The woman also owned a smaller dog which is now in the care of the RSPCA.
In the Melbourne attack, a woman was critically injured and the three dogs responsible were shot dead by police.
She remained in a critical condition on Friday.
Police tried to save her by using pepper spray on the dogs before drawing their guns.
“We are distressed about yesterday’s incident and the injuries to one of our residents – we remain concerned about her welfare,” Greater Dandenong city council chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said in a statement.
It was also confirmed there had been numerous previous complaints and concerns from neighbours about the dogs.
“We have previously taken action in response to those concerns and visited the property,” Weatherill said.
It followed another attack in a Melbourne back yard on Thursday when a woman was critically injured and the three dogs responsible fatally shot by police.