A Christchurch woman said she had to physically pull an aggressive dog off her 12-year-old pet after it was attacked at The Groynes dog park on Tuesday.

Hine told chrislynchmedia.com her Bichon Frise Border Collie cross, Jack, was playing off leash at about 12.15pm on Tuesday, when a much larger dog, which she believed was an Anatolian Shepherd, lunged at him without warning.

“All of a sudden the dog just charged at my dog. He swung him around and its canines went right deep into my dog’s skin,” she said. “I had to get on my hands and knees and push my hardest to get the dog off.”

Witness Christina Thompson, who was at the park with her own dogs, said she heard screaming and looked over to see Jack being violently shaken. “He was off the ground and the poor young owner was screaming. I just ran over,” she said.

“It was probably one of the most frightening things I’ve ever seen.” Thompson said when she asked the owner why his dog was not under control, he became abusive, swore at her, and called her crazy. She said his response left her stunned.

“The key words were ‘what do you expect? My dogs are predators’. I said why would you bring a dog you call a predator to a dog park in a public arena?”

Thompson said the man continued to berate her and refused to leave the park, and she eventually warned him she would call police. “We should be able to feel safe when we bring our dogs to a city council dog park,” she said.

Jack suffered a deep puncture wound to his neck and was rushed to Marshall & Pringle Veterinary Services in Kaiapoi, where he needed surgery costing more than $900. Hine said the vet advised Jack would need to wait about 38 hours before returning for stitches.

Chris Lynch Media has seen a photo of Jack’s injury, but has chosen not to publish it because of its graphic nature.

Thompson, who has worked in the veterinary industry, said the injury was far worse than first thought. “We literally thought they’ll just clean it out with some saline and give it a stitch. It was surgery,” she said.

“These dogs were big dogs. If it had been a smaller dog with thinner skin, he would have done thousands of dollars of damage, if not killed it.”

Hine said she was not physically injured but was left shaken by the incident, which she described as one of the most frightening experiences of her life.

She said the man later spoke with her mother by phone and agreed to pay Jack’s veterinary bills. Hine said the family had since been unable to reach him on the number provided.

A third witness who saw the attack and the man’s behaviour stayed in the car park until the group left so she could record his number plate, which has been passed to animal management.

Thompson said the incident had put her off returning to The Groynes. The attack has been reported to Christchurch City Council Animal Management, and police have also been notified.

Hine said she wanted the owner held accountable, including for the veterinary costs, and hoped authorities would investigate thoroughly. “I don’t want another family or another dog to experience what Jack and I have been through,” she said.

Jack is recovering at home on pain medication.

A Christchurch City Council spokesman the Council had received a complaint and the matter was under investigation.