Beachgoers are being warned to stay vigilant after a woman's beloved dog was viciously attacked by a group of dogs during a Christmas Day walk on a beach in Dublin.

Siobhan Cleary was walking her staffy Theo on Dollymount beach alongside her siblings Ciaran and Ash when the terrifying attack happened, which left her poor pooch fighting for its life.

The dog owner explained how the three dogs, either American bulldogs or pitbulls, had to be kicked and punched by a crowd of people before they let go of Theo.

Siobhan told Dublin Live : "Two men came running out after them I assume they were the owners and jumped on top of them trying to control them but it was impossible they were monsters and none of them had collars, leads or muzzles on."

"I started screaming get them off, they were going to kill him, I could just see him being torn apart under all of them."

"I started kicking them, punching them then I remember someone told me to stick your fingers up a dogs bum in a dog attack so I did it to the biggest one and he let go for a second and when he let go they all let go for a brief second."

"I kept screaming and eventually people started to help me kick them and we were all trying to pull them off which gave him a couple of seconds to get away."

The Dublin woman also spoke of how the dogs "turned on their owners" as she rushed to get help for her dog.

She said: "People were helping block them while we got away because they were determined to kill him [Theo]. I was absolutely terrified running to the car in case they caught us and killed him. "It was honestly the most horrific and horrifying experience I have ever endured."

Young Theo is now recovering from the incident while Siobhan wants "completely irresponsible and incapable owners" to take blame and not dogs.

She said: "I will never understand how on earth someone could think it was OK to let dogs of such mass strength loose on a busy beach on Christmas day full of people, especially kids and dogs, without any sort of protection for others."

"Not even a collar to grab them, an absolute disgrace. I do not blame the dogs I believe the owners are to blame."

The incident was reported to Gardai who confirmed they're investigating.

A spokesperson said: "Gardai in Clontarf are investigating an attack on a dog by 3 other dogs at approximately 3.50pm on the 25/12/18. Investigation ongoing."