JENNIFER Heatley and her family were taking their dog for a walk on Monday when the regular outing turned into a harrowing ordeal.

Ms Heatley's black cocker spaniel named Millie was attacked by a pack of dogs in the off leash area in the park opposite the Cannonavle School.

"My family was with me, my children were riding their bikes when we stopped to put Millie back on her leash and get a drink from a tap," she said.

"I was approached from behind by a black dog that stopped us and bared its teeth at my dog then snapped at her, causing her to yelp and fall to the ground."

The scene caused eight other dogs to come running and, before Ms Heatley could intervene, the pack was growling and biting Millie and had the family surrounded.

"I screamed for help and was trying to get my dog out of this attack but, before I could grab her, a staffy-cross pit-bull grabbed her by the neck and started shaking her violently - I couldn't get it off her," she said.

Fortunately, Ms Heatley's husband and 13-year-old son were able to start dragging and removing the dogs from the attack, and Ms Heatley was able to lift Millie and take her to a position of safety where they could see the extent of her injuries.

"We took her to the vet and he said she was very lucky to be alive," she said.

Ms Heatley said this was a preventable situation.

"I don't want a person or child or dog to be injured by something that can be prevented," she said.

Another Whitsunday resident, Wendy Beale, also fell victim to a dog attack last week when she was walking her small dog, Tootsie, near Port of Airlie.

"She was on her leash and I was just about to put her in the car when another dog, a kelpie-cross, came out of nowhere and started to attack her," she said.

"He really sunk his teeth into her and wouldn't let go. The vet said the wounds were very deep.

"I now have vet bills of $120, out of no fault of my own, and my dog is traumatised."

Council acting chief executive officer Barry Omundson reminded residents that, under the Whitsunday Regional Council local law No 2, 2014, people had a duty of care to ensure their dogs were under effective control when taking them into public places, including in designated dog off-lead areas.