Lucy Martin and her dog Daisy had just stepped out on their daily walk when they were set upon by an unleashed American Staffordshire terrier in December last year.

"It was eyeing us off and then came running down the hill, so I picked Daisy up," she said.

"But then it put one paw on each of my shoulders and bowled me over.

"I was terrified and afterwards I blamed myself for not running."

The 88-year-old from Penrith was hospitalised with bite marks to her hands and required stitches.

She also hit the back of her head on the footpath and was bruised from the side of one hip down to her knee.

Her beloved Chihuahua was killed instantly when its neck was broken in the attack.

Ms Martin welcomed new laws that will give local councils the power to more than double on-the-spot fines handed to owners of dogs that attack humans.

She hopes steeper fines may encourage pet owners to be more responsible.

"That is the first thing that came to my head when I hit the ground, I was thinking the fines for these attacks should be bigger," she said.

The dog that attacked Ms Martin and Daisy was put down following the incident.

Proposed changes follow spate of attacks

Changes to the Animal Companion Act due later this year will increase fines in some councils from $550 to $1,320.

Steeper penalties will also be in place for those who break the rules around controlling, selling or buying dangerous dogs.

The proposed changes will go on exhibition from Monday, and include incentives for people to take on rehomed cats and dogs in an attempt to reduce the number of homeless animals.

The changes follow a series of dog attacks across the state last month, including the fatal mauling of a one-year-old girl who was set upon by her family's Rottweiler in Inverell, as well as attacks on a two-year-old near Coffs Harbour and a three-year-old in Maitland.

Ms Martin still suffers pain in her hands and head and misses her daily five-kilometre walks with Daisy.

"I'm alone, I have no family and she was my companion," she said.

"I'm deaf and she would warn me when people arrived, she would sniff under the door.

"I still can't believe that this could happen.