Woman suffers 'severe, catastrophic' injuries in dog attack in Townsville

A woman has suffered catastrophic injuries to her right arm in an attack by her own dog in Townsville this morning.

Police say the 34-year-old woman was mauled by the dog, which they described as pit bull-like, at a property in Lonerganne Street in Garbutt at 7.20am.

Police officers, who were first to arrive on the scene, found the woman with "very severe, very catastrophic" injuries to her right arm and immediately applied a tourniquet.

READ MORE: Dogs fatally shot by police after woman critically injured in backyard attack

Senior Sergeant Scot Warrick said the first aid rendered by those officers had likely saved her life.

"The injuries she suffered were very, very severe," Warrick said.

"It is quite reasonable that they [police] have saved her life.

"Her blood loss was extensive and that tourniquet has ceased that blood loss."

Paramedics transported her to Townsville University Hospital where she remained in a serious but stable condition.

Police and animal control officers were unable to subdue the dog and it was euthanised at the scene.

"When my crews arrived there the dog was still very angry and aggressive," Warrick said.

"Unfortunately the safest way for everyone involved the euthanising of that dog.

"I note people will be very upset by that but we had no other option."

He said the dog was a large, pit bull-like breed.

Investigations are ongoing.

Given the woman is both the owner of the dog and the victim of the attack, Warrick said it was unlikely that she would be charged under new laws that impose maximum fines up to $108,000 and up to three years jail for the owner of a dog that kills or seriously injures a person.

The attack comes the day after a woman was mauled by three dogs a backyard in Dandenong, Melbourne.

Police were forced to shoot all three dogs, two American bulldogs and a pit bull, which are believed to have been owned by the victim's partner.

The woman, aged in her 20s, was rushed to Dandenong Hospital in a critical condition with injuries to her legs and arms.