A border collie’s “horrific injuries” have finally healed six weeks after her throat was “ripped open” by two dogs that came onto her owner’s property.

Molly was all smiles and wags, if not a little hot, when Local Democracy Reporting caught up with her and her owner Paul Gibbs.

 Paul says she had her last vet appointment for the injuries on Tuesday.

The 13-year-old dog had a wound on the top of head that wasn’t healing but it had closed in the last couple of days, he says.

On December 4, Molly was relaxing on the grass when two German Shepherds came onto the Whakamārama property after leaping from a ute filling up at the nearby petrol station.

Paul says they chased his son’s dog up the driveway then came across Molly.

He didn’t see the attack but was shocked when she arrived on the deck bleeding from the neck.

At first he thought someone had put a red collar on his dog then after a closer look he realised she was bleeding from "horrifying" gaping wounds and her neck had been “ripped open”.

“She literally had stitches from the top of her neck, right around to the bottom.”

Molly required two surgeries and Paul estimated she needed at least 50 stitches.

She also had daily vet visits to check the wounds.

“She’s such a placid dog and for that to happen to her, it was just devastating.”

He hasn’t received a final bill from the vets but the first surgery cost $1500 and the second was $2300.

It wasn’t just Molly that was bitten that day, when Paul tried to stop the owner of the German Shepherds leaving his property he was bitten on the hand, drawing blood.

The man came up Paul’s drive to collect his dogs and when Paul said he wanted him to stay until the police arrived the man tried to leave.

Paul reached into the man’s car to try stop him leaving and was bitten.

“It was quite painful.

"I had to go to the doctor to get a tetanus shot and get it treated.”

That too is healed but a red mark is still visible.

Paul managed to flag down passing police who also attempted to stop the driver leaving.

He says the police put out spikes to stop the vehicle, but the driver avoided them and drove away.

Molly’s wounds are healed her fur just needs to grow back. Photo: John Borren.

Molly’s temperament has also returned to normal but she was sometimes weary of other dogs during vet visits, says Paul.

“She's come right now, but she would cower away from me that was horrible to see she's never done that.

"She didn't do it a lot, but she did do it.”

Paul reported the attack to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and he is considering filling an assault charge with police against the dog owner for biting him.

A police spokesperson confirmed an officer assisted after a dog attack at a Whakamārama property and the matter hand been referred to animal control.

Paul says he believed the dogs should have been taken off their owner when the attack first happened.

He was concerned the dogs could attack another dog or a person and says it was lucky his grandchildren were at school or they could have been attacked as well.

“I think they [the council] were all a bit blasé about it.

"I felt like they didn't sort of see the seriousness of it.”

Western Bay of Plenty District Council team leader animal services Peter Hrstich says the council was still investigating the incident and there weren’t any updates.

“We are aware of a dog attack that took place at a private property in Whakamārama on 4 December.

“It is important that we take the necessary time to gather and compile all the evidence available to us, before coming to a decision.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.