Dog attack terror
NORTHCLIFF – 'I felt like I was in a lion’s den,' says a woman who was attacked by three dogs in Northcliff.
As Mary Venter took an evening walk with her dog on Weltevreden Street in Northcliff on 17 January, she was attacked by three dogs that turned her walk into an emergency room visit.
“It was after 5pm and I was taking my dog for a walk, as I have for the past 15 years. I walked past a gate and it looked locked. As I continued with my walk I heard a loud noise. Three big dogs came running and pushed me down and also pulled my small dog,” retold Venter.
“I felt like I was in a lion’s den. And one dog was pulling my dog and the others biting me. All I was saying is, ‘what are you doing you stupid animals’ and I was so powerless.
Two young people came to Venter’s rescue.
“The one guy tried to chase the dogs away and even picked bricks to move them away from me and the other lady helped me up. A man came out of the house with some people and shouted ‘nobody walks by my house’ and started throwing insults.”
The young people drove the terrified and injured Venter to her home.
According to the doctor’s note, Venter sustained multiple open wounds on the right thigh, left thigh, scalp, multiple abrasions on legs and various other injuries. She also had to undergo rabies vaccinations.
“I went to the house on Sunday and asked the owner of the dogs if he was aware of what happened and he was very arrogant. He didn’t care about what had happened to my mother. He didn’t even ask about her health. All he said was that he will speak to his lawyer and so should I,” said Venter’s daughter Colleen Speirs.
Venter and Speirs are worried about the dogs attacking other people.
“That street is a very busy street. Children from Northcliff Primary School walk there every day and so do other people in the neighbourhood. We are supposed to be able to walk freely in the area and not worry about being attacked by dogs,” added Speirs.
Venter and Speirs were left with a hospital bill of R5 000.
Speirs advised residents with vicious dogs to take precautions.
“I understand dogs are meant to protect the homes of their owners but people should keep their gates locked at all times, especially on main roads. It would also be helpful if they can have a ‘beware’ sign so pedestrians can see,” said Speirs.
Speirs involved JMPD in the matter and intends to distribute flyers in the neighbourhood to make residents aware.
The vicious dog owner could not be reached for comment.
