Two men left their “bubbles” to rescue a 70-year-old woman and her dog from a wolf pack-like attack by two Staffordshire terriers in Gisborne on Sunday.

The woman was walking her dog, Kevin, back from her daughter's house when the incident occurred on Stout Street near the Wi Pere Street corner at around 3pm.

“They came out of nowhere as Kevin and I walked along the grass verge,” she said.

“They were so vicious. They were attacking us as a pair, like wolves.

“I screamed as loud as I could and two men came running out of their separate houses across the road — out of their bubbles, to help me.

“One had a big boat oar and used it to try to whack the dogs away. The other man took hold of Kevin to keep him safe. I was shaking so much that the man who grabbed Kevin carried him to my daughter's place with me.”

She was extremely grateful for the men's help.

“Those two men were exceptional in the way they helped me during the current pandemic crisis.”

The woman and her pet were not injured in the attack.

A short time later a council animal control dog ranger captured the attackers.

Neither of the dogs were wearing a collar.

“They were impounded and then returned to their owner,” the woman said. “I was told it was because it was their first offence.”

The woman said the dogs' owner told the council officer that someone had left the front gate open to their home property.

“But I feel those dogs should have been put down for what they did.”

Sunday's attack follows a similar incident across the Taruheru River in the Botanical Gardens a few weeks ago when a woman walking her dog was set upon by a pair of dogs.

That woman suffered a bite wound and her dog needed extensive veterinary care for its injuries.

The attacking dogs were not located.