Pitbull mastiff put down after attacking woman in Cork

A pitbull mastiff which attacked a woman in her home in Mitchelstown, Co Cork on Monday, causing her serious injuries, has been put down.

The dog had been captured and taken to a secure location by gardaí following the attack on the woman at a house on Upper Cork Street.

Gardaí spoke to the woman’s partner, who owned the dog, on Monday night and he agreed to have the animal put down. The dog was later brought him to a local vet and euthanised.

The attack happened at about 9.15am on Monday. Gardaí were alerted to it by a neighbour who heard the woman screaming for help.

Gardaí Henry Ward and Willie Hickey came to the woman’s house but could not gain access through the front door which locked. When they arrived at the back of the house, they heard the woman being attacked by the dog and scaled a wall and jumped into the garden.

Garda Ward struck the dog on the snout with his baton to try and get him to release the woman. Garda Hickey helped to get the woman to safety when the animal released its grip.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery to try and save her arms which were badly injured in the attack.

Pitbull Mastiffs are a crossbreed between pitbulls and mastiff and can vary in size depending on the type of pitbulls and mastiff which are bred. They are usually used a guard dogs.