Mother and son ravaged by dogs

One of the pitbulls raced out her neighbour’s yard, through a gate that was left ajar and started attacking her five-year-old son who was walking next to her. A moment later, two more dogs came running out and attacked her. Her five-year-old son managed to get on his feet and run towards his home, but the dog chased after him. When he reached the gate, the dog let-up and joined the other two who were attacking Erica. The third dog knocked her off her feet, which resulted in her one-year-old son, whom she was carrying on her back, landing up on the floor. Her youngest son escaped the attack unharmed.

A few minutes after the attack began, the owner of the dogs, came to assist Erica. Neighbours who saw the attack take place urged the man to take Erica to the hospital, but it is alleged he was unwilling to help. He closed his gate and went inside his house. One of her neighbours called an ambulance, but the dog-owner eventually took her to the hospital before emergency services arrived.

“I think he decided to take her to hospital because of the tension around the house. Many people were urging him to help her, they said he should take her to hospital because she was bleeding. The ambulance arrived a few minutes later, just after they left,” said family friend, Gibson Chijongwe.

The mother and son duo were taken to Wentworth Hospital for treatment.

“At the hospital she received speedy treatment. The nurses were shocked because her wounds were so deep,” said Gibson. Erica couldn’t walk for two weeks, she was bitten on her feet, back, shoulders, arms, thigh and leg. Her son son sustained injuries to his arm, leg and back. The duo have been visiting the hospital regularly for further treatment.

“The dog-owner’s wife came around to the house as if trying to help us, but this has all changed and she has called the police to try and intimidate and question us to find out if we are in the country legally. Their behaviour is not right, if you are a human being you must have common sense. You mustn’t treat people with cruelty. The neighbour cares more about his dogs than a human,” said Erica’s husband, Luckmore Chidakwa.

Erica said she is scared of leaving her home because of the dogs and has to be driven to the shops as she is afraid of walking in the road.

The Sun contacted the dog-owners wife, but she did not want to be named. She said the incident was purely accidental; the electrical gate did not close properly and they were unable to see that it wasn’t. She said she and her husband have been victimised and some of the neighbours have thrown glass bottles onto their property.

It is alleged that the dog-owner saw the whole incident take place as was sitting on the front porch.

It was confirmed with Montclair communications officer, Lt Leopold Jojozi that a case of keeping ferocious dogs had been opened. He said the docket had been sent to the prosecutor for a decision on whether a prosecution would take place.

– mbalim@dbn.caxton.co.za