A woman and a one-year-old child were yesterday admitted in hospital in serious condition when two angry dogs allegedly escaped from a home and attacked them while they took an early morning stroll in Eltham Vista, St Catherine.

"Suppose you see what happened this morning? The dog had the baby in her mouth for minutes," said one resident, who stood near the house where the incident happened.

Another man, who identified himself only as Alvin, said that several attempts to free the child from the grip of the ferocious dog were unsuccessful.

Other residents claimed that it was a licensed firearm owner who came to the rescue of the victims, killing the two blood-thirsty animals.

The St Catherine North Police have since launched an investigation into the matter which is the second case reported in the parish over the last year. Last July, a 58-year-old woman was mauled to death by a pitbull in the community of March Pen Road in Spanish Town.

"We will definitely have to look into the circumstances as to what led to the incident and to see if it was a case of negligence on the part of the owners," said head of the police division, Superintendent Anthony Castel.

Yesterday, as large group of residents gathered near the yard from where the dogs allegedly escaped, bloodstains were still visible along the sidewalk where the attack happened.

The owners of the animal were not at the dwelling to respond to residents' claims.

The angry residents said the authorities should not only launch an investigation into the incident, but implement stricter measures to ensure that persons control their animals.

Meanwhile, the police have issued a strong warning to dog owners to exercise greater care and to monitor the movements of their animals around members of the public.