George Bonello was preparing to start construction work on a house in Xemxija yesterday morning when he spotted a pit bull running in his direction.

Muscles ripping, the huge dog stopped nearby and started snarling, shocking Mr Bonello.

"It was a huge dog. Just seeing it was frightening. I was scared it would attack me," he said, adding that another dog of the same species was in a nearby balcony, barking loudly.

The construction worker had good reason to be afraid. Just a month ago, a woman was walking her poodle along Fekruna Street, in the vicinity, when one of the two pit bulls pounced on her pet and mauled it to death. "This woman's life revolved around the poodle and the pit bull killed it. She was lucky it did not attack her," one of the neighbours said.

The incident was yesterday confirmed by the police who said the dogs' owner was expected to be arraigned.

Anxious, Mr Bonello could not continue with his work and the police were informed about a dog on the loose. This was the last straw. The dog was rounded up by the Animal Welfare Department and will now be put down.

The second dog, which was in a balcony under the scorching sun without water and in squalid conditions, was also taken away and will face the same fate. Both dogs were deemed too dangerous to be re-homed or put in a sanctuary with other dogs.

Animal welfare officer Godric Marston said he had to climb a ladder to get to the balcony, since nobody was at home and the dog almost attacked him. He had to administer an anaesthetic injection before he was able to take the animal down.

"Residents were scared of the two dogs. One elderly man was sitting and kept small rocks near him so he could throw them at the dogs if they attacked him," he said.

Mr Marston said the department was adamant to continue with its work to protect animals and thanked Rural Affairs Minister George Pulllicino and his staff for their support.