A pitbull which mauled its owner was shot dead by its owner’s neighbour on Wednesday night.

The dog’s owner, aged 61 years old, was reportedly sitting in his garden in the Nicosia suburb of Ayios Dhometios at around 8pm when the dog launched an attack.

The man’s neighbour, a 78-year-old man, then attempted to intervene, first spraying water from a hose at the dog in an attempt to make it go away.

When that failed, he pulled out a shotgun, and shot the dog dead.

The dog’s owner is currently being treated for injuries to his left arm at the Nicosia general hospital.

The police’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.