AN elderly woman suffered a deep cut to her arm and was left traumatised yesterday after a dog jumped over a six-foot fence and pulled her off her mobility scooter.

St John Ambulance staff and Gisborne police were called to the scene at the Stout Street/Atkinson Street intersection at around 1pm.

The 77-year-old woman was taken to Gisborne Hospital for further treatment. She was discharged last night.

The mobility scooter was left “buckled” after the attack, the woman’s daughter told The Gisborne Herald.

“She’s still traumatised,” said Cherrie Kaa. “When she was pulled off the scooter she said she just screamed out for help, and luckily help came straight away.

“She decided to go to the dairy around the corner at lunchtime yesterday, and when she passed the fence, the dog just jumped right over it and attacked her.

“I guess it could have been the sound of the mobility scooter that set the dog off . . . who knows?

“The scooter was buckled when she was pulled off it.

“I just want to thank ambulance staff and police, who have been great,” said Cherrie Kaa.

The Neapolitan Mastiff dog was later caught and impounded.

“We are investigating the incident,” said Gisborne District Council regulatory services manager Sarwan Kumar.

“Once we have spoken to police and the victim, we will be better placed to make a decision on how best to proceed,” he said.

Anyone who sees a dangerous or aggressive looking dog roaming around the streets is urged to get in touch with Gisborne District Council, says Senior Sergeant Lincoln Sycamore of Gisborne police.

“Police who attended to the elderly woman were happy to be of assistance and we would like to wish her a speedy recovery,” he said.

“If someone is being attacked by a dog, or is under threat, ring Gisborne police immediately on 869-0200.”

In 2010, an 18-year-old youth was rushed to hospital after he was “savagely attacked” by a neapolitan mastiff in Te Karaka.

He needed stitches to the underside of his left arm, where the dog ripped his muscle away from the bone.

He also had puncture wounds covering his left arm and right thigh from the attack.