A woman's poodle crossbreed suffered multiple bite wounds when it was attacked by a pit bull in Gisborne on Sunday.

Ro Darrall was walking her dog Doris on a leash in Railway Lane when she saw the pit bull. It was with its owner but not on a leash.

“The dog went for Doris,” said Ms Darrall. “The owner tried to get the dog off Doris but she wasn't very successful. The attack seemed like an eternity.”

Ms Darrall rushed her dog to a veterinary clinic.

An animal control officer located the pit bull and impounded it.

After spending a day at the clinic Doris is back at home.

“She's not too good,” says Ms Darrall.

“She's got quite a few stitches, bruising and a couple of drains.

“She had a rough time. The dog just jumped on her. It was terrible. The bites are deep and she has some tissue damage. She has multiple wounds and one is particularly big.”

The pit bull remains in the pound and at this stage will not be returned to the property, says animal control team leader Ross Hannam.

“We have had problems with this dog before. Once again we remind dog owners to be responsible. Ensure dogs are securely contained on your property and if you're taking them out for a walk, they must be on a leash.”

Under Covid-19 Alert Level 4 rules, dogs must be kept on leashes in public areas, even in ordinarily leash-free zones.

In an online video posted on Monday, Mayor Rehette Stoltz reinforced the message.

“When you go outside to exercise, please keep your dog on a leash. I'm aware one of my dear friend's dog was attacked yesterday. That's just not good enough.

“When we do go out please make sure you keep your dogs on leashes because you cannot control your dog rushing towards another family if you do not have it on a lead.”

NASTY WOUNDS: Poodle-cross Doris is back at home with owner Ro Darrall and recovering from surgery after she was attacked by a pit bull in an otherwise quiet Whataupoko lane on Sunday. The dog that attacked Doris was not on a leash — a requirement under Covid-19 Alert Level 4. 'When you go outside to exercise, please keep your dog on a leash,' said Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz. Picture supplied