A campaign is underway to save the four month old pitbull puppy confiscated by the Tauranga City Council after a 52 year old woman was allegedly attacked by it.

The woman was allegedly attacked by her 54 year old sister and the dog at the weekend.

The 15kg accused puppy.

Tauranga man Marcus de Thierry, who knows the sisters, believes the young dog is being unfairly blamed.

He says the sisters were drinking alcohol at a Welcome Bay house early Saturday morning when the alleged assault occurred.

Marcus believes the dog can only be responsible for about 20 per cent of the woman's injuries.

He is critical of newspapers and websites which are portraying the puppy as the main attacker.

'It's a pretty simple case of misusing alcohol,” says Marcus.

'I think it's horrific they are trying to blame the dog.”

Tauranga City Council's animal services department is holding the dog on behalf of the police.

Team leader Brent Lincoln says the dog will not be destroyed immediately.

'If the police decide to prosecute in relation to the dog, we will hold it pending the court case.”

He says it will be automatically destroyed if there is a conviction, unless special circumstances are considered.

Marcus is campaigning to save the dog, and wants to have ownership of it.

He describes the puppy as a 'nice natured” dog that was protecting its owner.

'He's a poor four month old pup that just was just trying to save his own mum in his own home.”