A grandmother may have to have her legs amputated and has already lost an arm after she was mauled by the family dog in an attack which lasted an hour.
The 72-year-old was attacked by the American pit bull type dog while she looked after her eight-year-old granddaughter in Goodwick, west Wales.
According to a friend, the woman, a retired cleaner, has been placed in an induced coma after the attack by the 12-stone dog called Rex.
The woman's daughter and son-in-law were out and her granddaughter was at a nearby play area when Rex, one of five dogs owned by the couple, cornered her in the kitchen of the family home in Stop and Call in Goodwick, Pembrokeshire.
The incident happened in a property in Stop and Call in Goodwick, Pembrokeshire
She had run into the back garden, but the dog followed and attacked.
She was found an hour later when her son-in-law returned home from work.
Emergency services were called to the property at Stop and Call, and the woman received critical care treatment before being airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed: 'Dyfed-Powys Police was called at 4.45pm on Tuesday, August 10 to a report that a woman had been bitten by a family dog within a property in Goodwick.
'The woman was taken to hospital with what were described as serious injuries.
'In accordance with the wishes of the family the dog was taken to a vet and put down.'
Stock image: The American style pit bull dog called Rex (not pictured) launched into an attack in the back garden of the family home in Pembrokeshire
Police have yet to comment on claims the dog was due to be destroyed following two recent attacks.
A friend told The Sun: 'The poor woman is in a shocking state. She was air-lifted to hospital, but they couldn't save her arm and they had to put her into a coma.
'Now they're talking about amputating both her legs as well. The doctors say it's 50-50. It is utterly heart-breaking.
'She's in a truly terrible way and her injuries are clearly going to be life-changing if she recovers.'
She added that the same dog had attacked family members twice in recent months, including a carer.
Neighbours have also said they fear the family's dogs.
One, who asked to remain anonymous, said: 'We're all terrified of them.
'They very rarely leave the house. Instead, they're shut up indoors or in the backyard snarling and barking.
The woman was airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea by the Wales Air Ambulance
'I don't know how this poor woman survived. It was bound to happen sooner or later.'
It is believed tests will now be done to determine if the dog was a banned breed.
Pit bulls were one of four dog breeds to be outlawed in the UK by the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991.
Section one of the Act makes it illegal for people in the UK to own, sell, breed, give away or abandon the Pit bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasilerio.
UK legislation bases also bases the decision on whether a dog is illegal on how similar it looks to one of the banned breeds, and its temperament is not considered.
The British Veterinary Association along with a coalition of groups are now urging the Government to review the Act and adopt an evidence-based approach, meaning dogs will be judged by their behaviour, and not their breed.
BVA senior vice-president Daniella Dos Santos told the i: 'We've joined with five other welfare groups to call on the Government to end this specific legislation and until that point allow our rescue groups to rehome these dogs.'
