IF IT wasn't for the help of a complete stranger and a talented veterinarian, Don Meneely swears his daughter's dog Bella would not have made it to the new year.

Bella became one of the latest victims among the spate of dog attacks across Warwick in the past few months.

The Warwick man was enjoying a walk along the Condamine River on Boxing Day morning with his two silky dogs - Bella as well as his own dog Benji - when a stray staffie attacked, sinking its teeth into Bella's side.

"I was just walking along the path when a dog walked across the grass," Mr Meneely recalled.

"It just all of a sudden jumped on and got stuck into her."

Mr Meneely couldn't remember how long the attack lasted because his thoughts were focused on helping Bella.

"I tried to kick the dog but I missed," he said.

"A man who was standing on the grass came across and just pulled the other dog off Bella."

"It was very brave," he said.

"I'm getting too old to fight with dogs."

Once Bella was freed from the jaws of the violent dog, Mr Meneely did not stick around to find out what happened next.

He picked up Bella, grabbed Benji and headed for the car.

"I had blood running down my shirt and into my shoe," Mr Meneely said.

"I knew she had lost a lot of blood so I took her straight to the vet."

Warwick Town and Country Vet Greg Harris attended to Bella, and it was here Mr Meneely was made aware of the extent of her injuries.

"She spent a day and a half at the vet on a drip," he said.

"Then had to have a major operation.

"She had two broken ribs and a detached muscle.

"The operation took about an hour."

Mr Meneely phoned the Daily News to report the incident after reading the coverage from earlier in the week about dog attacks in the area.

Warwick Vet Clinic's Chris Reardon said on average he saw one dog attack victim a month.

Dog attacks and potentially vicious dogs can be reported to the Southern Downs Regional Council 24/7 through their emergency response service.

Director of planning and environment Ken Harris said the system was set up to deal with services the council supplies.

"One of those emergencies is dog attacks and also includes threatening or potentially vicious dogs," he said.

"Straying or barking dogs are not emergent situations and will be dealt with during normal office hours.

"When reports of dog attacks are received there are staff on call at both the northern and southern ends of the council region and the response will be immediate after the call has been received.

"If there are problems with straying animals after hours or during long weekends or extended breaks like Easter and Christmas the messages will be dealt with after the staff return to work."

Mr Harris said the local law officers who dealt with animal control were trained in how to control vicious or threatening animals.

Despite the trauma Bella went through she is back at home and acting like nothing ever happened.

"We had the stitches taken out (yesterday)," Mr Meneely said.

"She is not scared of other dogs either.

"I just want to say a big thank you to Warwick Town and Country Vet Greg Harris.

"He did a marvellous job."

Bella who lives with Mr Meneely's daughter Jill headed home to Toowoomba yesterday afternoon.

Attack hotline

To contact council's emergency response team outside of normal hours phone 4661 0300.

When prompted dial 1.