A 72-year-old woman who was attacked in Cronulla on Friday by two dogs, including an American pit bull terrier, remains in Sydney Hospital's hand unit in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, the two dogs believed to be responsible for the attack are being held in a Sutherland Shire Council facility.
Sutherland Shire Police said a man and a woman were walking two dogs along Cronulla Plaza at about 11.30am on Friday when one of the dogs, which was reportedly not on a lead, ran towards a Maltese terrier and began to attack it.
Police said the owner of the dog moved in to try to stop the attack, however the other dog, which was on a lead, also joined the attack.
The 72-year-old woman who owned the Maltese terrier tried to stop the attack, and suffered a significant injury to her hand before nearby members of the public raced to her aid and were able to separate the dogs.
A NSW Ambulance Service spokesman said paramedics treated the woman at the scene for serious hand injuries. A paramedic told media at the scene that two of the woman's fingers were partially severed in the attack.
She was transported to Sydney Hospital's hand unit, where she underwent emergency surgery on Friday afternoon.
A NSW Health spokeswoman said today the woman remains in hospital in a stable condition.
The Maltese terrier was taken to a local vet for treatment.
Police said two people were detained and their details obtained.
A Sutherland Shire Council spokesman said the council's public safety unit seized the two dogs involved in the alleged attack and both were being held at a council facility.
He said one of the dogs, an American pit bull terrier, was from the Georges River Council area and was unregistered. He said the dog would be declared a 'restricted dangerous dog' and not released until Georges River Council confirmed strict control measures would be met, in accordance with prescribed enclosure requirements.
The spokesman said a second dog, a cane corso from Inner West Council local government area, was also found to be unregistered. That dog would also be declared a 'restricted dangerous dog' and would be subject to similar control measures, to be enforced by Inner West Council.
The council's public safety unit is continuing to investigate the incident.
The council spokesman said on Friday all dog owners were required to keep their pets on a leash at all times when in public areas, unless they are in one of council's designated off-leash areas.
"Council has the power to take action against those who fail to fulfil their responsibilities as a pet owner, including imposing financial penalties, animal management orders or the seizure of any animals that have attacked a person or animals," he said.
