A woman was mauled by her own pet dogs when she tried to stop them from fighting at a house in Merseyside, a neighbour said.
Armed police, paramedics and firefighters rushed to the scene after the four bulldogs turned on their owner on a residential street in St Helens.
One neighbour told how emergency crews had to break through a window to help the woman escape as she struggled to get to her front door.
The woman was seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment following the attack on Monday.
Residents looked on with concern while the street was flooded with emergency services for most of the morning.
One witness told the Liverpool Echo how the animals would often fight and the woman was "trying to break them up."
She said : "I was just coming home from work and I saw all the fire service and paramedics. I couldn't even get onto my drive there was that many.
"It's a shocking, horrible thing to happen and I just feel sorry for her because I know what dogs can be like when they start like that. They don't care who they're biting.
"The dogs fight a lot and she gets in between them to break it up, and that's what seems to have happened this time.
"I think the emergency services literally had to go in through the window to help her as she couldn't make it to the door to open it."
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "The thought of anything like this happening really just terrifies me. I really hope the woman is okay and recovers from this.
"It's normally a really nice., quiet little street, so I don't think anyone can really believe what went on. I think no one really knew how to react."
Police remained on the street for several hours along with armed response units and dog units.
Following the attack, the bulldogs were seen being placed into the back of an unmarked black van.
Merseyside Police said the animals were taken away by officers and placed into police kennels.
They also confirmed that the owner has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.
