A man and woman are expected to undergo surgery after being mauled by dogs as they tried to save their pet chickens and ducks at their Sydney home.
Police say the pair discovered two dogs inside a chicken coop at their Castlereagh home, in Sydney's west, on Saturday afternoon.
A woman, 27, went into the coop to stop the dogs from killing her pets but she was pinned down and badly bitten on her face, arms and torso.
A man, 29, heard the woman scream while he was inside their home trying to find something to restrain the dogs.
As he pulled one of the dogs off the woman, one of the animals sank its teeth deep into his hand and bit his abdomen.
The dogs ran out of the coop and by the time police arrived one of the dogs had escaped.
Paramedics took the pair to Nepean Hospital where they are expected to have surgery for a number of serious wounds.
The owner of the animals was found and one of the dogs has been put down.
Police said they were still searching for the second dog and said it has been described as a ridgeback-cross.
