A DEVOTED dog owner has taken extreme measures to save her pet pooch from being savaged to death on Hampton Beach.

Ann Bendouli said she was walking her Jack Russell pup on Saturday afternoon when a Staffordshire terrier raced at her from 50m away and attacked.

Watching helplessly as Lexey was tossed about like a “rag doll” for five minutes, she devised an uncomfortable yet effective strategy.

She tweaked some advice gleaned on Google, resorting to an underhanded rugby tactic to dislodge the vicious dog’s jaws.

“I had read that you are supposed to pick up the dog’s tail and put a lighter up its behind,” said the 55-year-old, from Hampton East.

“I didn’t have a lighter, so I put my finger up its backside, right up to the second knuckle.

“I had to do something to save my dog ... it had her upside down, she was howling like a human being.

“The look on her face was of absolute shock and she was bleeding from an eye.”

She said the shocked Staffy suddenly unlocked its jaw and dropped Lexey, who was scooped up to safety by a witness.

The one-year-old puppy was taken for emergency surgery where she had 15 stitches in her side.

An angry Ms Bendouli points the finger of blame squarely at the Staffy’s owner, who she said had admitted it was the dog’s second attack.

She said the dog failed to loosen its grip even when the owner kicked the Staffy and threw sticks and stones at it.

“This dog is dangerous, it should have been leashed and muzzled,” she said.

She reported the incident to police, who referred her to Bayside Council, who are investigating.

Ms Bendouli said the woman had initially agreed to pay the vet bill, but her husband had since reneged.

The staffy’s owner lost the tip of her toe in the attack, and underwent surgery today.

Council director of Infrastructure Services Steven White said witness statements were being taken but warned the owner could face prosecution carrying a maximum fine of $4000, and the dog could be euthanased.

The council also has the option of deeming the dog “dangerous”, requiring it to be muzzled, controlled on a lead in public and wear a red and yellow striped collar.

“Council is always concerned by any report of a dog attack and will use the powers available to it to protect the community if our investigation establishes a breach of pet ownership laws,” he said in a statement.

Originally published as Why I stuck my finger up attack dog’s bum