Updated 12pm

A dog breeder whose pit bulls mauled his 95-year-old grandmother to death in 2020 has been hospitalised after being attacked by his own dogs on Monday morning.

Andre Galea was attacked outside his residence on Antonio Sciortino Street in Msida, witnesses told Times of Malta.

Neighbours were alerted to the attack at around 1.30am on Monday after hearing screaming and cries for help outside the Msida townhouse. 

“The dogs were biting him to pieces,” said one witness.  

Galea had to climb onto a car to flee the dogs.

A white dog believed to be a pitbull was holding on to Galea with its teeth while a second brown dog ran around in the street, the onlooker said. They added that the white dog appeared to be attacking Galea’s arms, face and hands. 

“He was trying to protect his face,” they said.

Galea sought refuge on the roof of a parked car after attempting to fight the dogs off, kicking one of the animals in the face while trying to flee. 

“I woke up to hear him [Galea] screaming ‘help me’... he was bleeding quite heavily,” one other witness said. 

They recounted how at one point, a woman inside Galea’s property opened the front door to let the man in, but was warned by neighbours to keep the door closed, fearing for her safety.

The police were on site within minutes, but it took Animal Welfare officers an hour to get to Antonio Sciortino Street, neighbours recounted.

Animal Welfare officers eventually restrained the white dog, with witnesses saying they were forced to wait for a vet to bring a sedative.

Both dogs were in custody by 3.45am.

One of the dogs collected from the Msida home on Monday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

While the officers should have access to a tranquiliser gun, not all officers receive training with the necessary equipment, Animal Welfare Commissioner Alison Bezzina told Times of Malta when contacted on Monday.

"[I’m] not surprised, though always disappointed, that they are not equipped as they should be,” Bezzina said, adding that a vet was still required in such cases to ensure the correct dosage is administered.

The police are investigating the case, a spokesperson confirmed on Monday morning.

When Times of Malta went on site on Monday, it found pools of blood on the car that Galea had climbed on, while another dog was found laying on top of a shopping bag on the steps to his property nearby.  

Inez Galea and her pet chihuahua were killed when they were mauled by dogs three years ago.

Sources familiar with the area told Times of Malta that Galea continued to keep dogs after the fatal attack on his grandmother, Inez Galea, in 2020, with one saying they estimated he was currently keeping “eight or nine dogs” at the property. 

Animals were being kept inside and on the roof, they said, noting that Galea had constructed concrete pens on the roof to house the dogs.  

Other animals including birds and rabbits were also being kept at the property, they said.  

Multiple sources told Times of Malta they heard barking “all the time” and voiced concerns over the wellbeing of the animals being kept at the property.

Galea stands accused of the involuntary homicide of his grandmother.

During criminal proceedings, it transpired that the pitbulls that mauled to death his grandmother had scars that vets believe could be the remains of wounds suffered in dog fights.

In separate proceedings, Galea was cleared of animal cruelty.