Police said they received a call after 4pm that the woman was found unconscious on the lawn of a licensed dog hotel and canine training centre in Ping Yeung San Tsuen.
The 33-year-old was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene, with visible wounds to her head, neck and arms.
Assistant Border District Commander Matthew Chan told a media briefing later that a mongrel was spotted in the area when first responders arrived.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage, officers believed the attack took place at around 2pm, when the woman had just fed the dog and wanted to lead it back into the cage.
But the dog refused and attacked the woman, who was alone at the time.
She was also the premises’ licensee.
The male mongrel, which is about one year old and measures 1m in length, was brought to the facility by a volunteer last week and is awaiting adoption.
It has been taken away by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) for observation.
Forensic pathologists, as well as officers from the AFCD and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are now looking into the case.
