Eight-year-old survives brutal pit bull attack

The dogs bit her in the buttocks and she also suffered bruises caused by the claws on her stomach.

Jada Peterson, of Protea Street, in Reiger Park, was on her way home from the shop on January 19, at around 6pm, when the incident occurred.

Her father, Leon, said the two pit bull terriers from his neighbour’s house brutally attacked his child.

“The brother of the dogs’ owner opened the gate and the dogs ran across the road and attacked my daughter,” he explained.

“He tried to stop the dogs from attacking her, but failed. A couple of concerned residents also tried to help; by then one of the women on the scene had to use a bicycle seat to separate the dogs from my daughter.”

The child had to be rushed to the Tambo Memorial Hospital.

“I was then accompanied by police members to the dogs’ owner’s home, because the doctor at the hospital needed to know if they had been vaccinated for rabies,” Leon said.

“If not, my daughter needed treatment, or she would face a fatal fate.”

According to the father, it turned out that the dogs were not vaccinated against rabies.

“Neighbours in the area often complained to the owner about his dogs being let loose and jumping over the gates to attack people, but it seems like the owner doesn’t care,” said Leon.

Jada’s grandmother, Caroline Peterson, who helped fight off the dogs to free her granddaughter, said she heard screams while she was in the house.

“I came running out and I realised the dogs were attaching her; those who helped had no option but to throw ourselves into the fray to stop the dogs,” she added.

Jada was discharged from the hospital on January 21, after two days.

Her father opened a case at Reiger Park SAPS, which was confirmed by the police’s Sgt Mashudu Phathela.

“We have taken a statement from the the owner of the dogs and the docket will be submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision to prosecute,” said Phathela.