Two dogs caused havoc on a Quarteira beach, one biting a 57-year-old man, and both eventually were captured and sent to Loulé municipal kennels to await their fate.
The dogs, a mother and son, caused panic amongst holidaymakers on the beach at the end of Wednesday afternoon.
The president of the local parish council, Telmo Pinto said, "is an isolated case", adding, "I have asked the GNR that inquiries should be made to identify the owner of the animals so that he or she can be held responsible. There is no further risk to beach users."
Pinto said that "although four people were confronted by one of the dogs, only one person suffered injuries and had to receive hospital care."
The victim was a man of 57 who was attacked while attempting to rescue a child who was playing with a toy near his parents. The dog bit the man who had slipped and fallen. He suffered deep bite wounds to his right leg and cuts on his left.
A Spanish doctor who was on the beach gave the man first aid before the victim was taken by ambulance to the Health Centre in Loulé.
The two captured dogs are said to have traces of pitbull terrier and neither was chipped. Both dogs were captured by GNR officers with the help of the public after a chase of more than one kilometre.
Whoever owns the animals is in trouble as a dog attack is considered a criminal act and the owner is liable.
The victim already has lodged a complaint and the case will go to the prosecutor for investigation into the ownership of the animals.
