Jackie Gallagher, 70, was looking after the dogs for family members at her home in Kenyon Lane when the animals attacked her.
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| SCENE of the horror attack … the house in Kenyon Lane and hero neighbour Gary Linger saved the woman's life |
Mrs Gallagher was set upon in the living room of her home by two powerful bull mastiffs.
Neighbours came running to the address after her carer witnessed the attack through the living room window and began screaming.
Next-door neighbour Gary Linger said: "The carer was running in out of our garden because the doorbell doesn't work."
Wife Sue said: "I went out and the girl was hysterical, she just screamed 'the dogs are attacking Jackie'. Gary ran out, went straight to the door and booted it in."
Mr Linger found Mrs Gallagher on the living room floor with one of the dogs on top of her and the other covered in blood.
He said: "They were eating her. She was still conscious, but it looked to me like they'd gouged right down to the bone.
"I basically kicked it as hard as I could to get it off her and threw it through the front door."
An Alsatian dog that was also in the house at the time fled through the front door.
Neighbour Stephanie Kenny, 44, said: "It was horrific - one of the neighbours called the police, but they couldn't speak.
"And then when I spoke I didn't make much sense.
"The bull mastiffs still had bits of flesh and blood in their mouths. The dogs were in a frenzy they were foaming blood at the mouth."
Mr Linger guarded the front door of the house alongside a driver armed with a tree branch who had pulled over after hearing the shouting, while Mrs Gallagher's carer gave her emergency first aid.
Police and dog wardens were called to the scene shortly before 11.40am last Thursday (December 22) with neighbours herded into nearby gardens as the dogs were rounded up.
The bull mastiffs, German shepherd dog, two Yorkshire terriers and a litter of puppies were confiscated from the address.
Mrs Gallagher was rushed to hospital by paramedics and was due to undergo an emergency operation to save her arms.
She is likely to face further plastic surgery in an attempt to repair the damage.
Crime scene investigation officers remained at the house throughout Thursday. Both bull mastiffs and the Alsatian have been put down.
The other dogs remain in the custody of the dog warden, whilst the puppies have been returned to the family.
(Manchester Evening News - December 29, 2011)
