Wentworth lad,12, survives brutal pitbull attack
It is said that Kaleb had been playing outside with his friends when a neighbour’s pitbull escaped from the yard and attacked him.
A WENTWORTH mother is calling for the owners of power dog breeds to be more responsible, after her 12-year-old son was attacked and bitten by a pitbull.
Kaleb Marais, of Croton Road, had been playing outside with his friends, when a neighbour’s pitbull escaped from the yard and attacked him on November 5.
He was bitten on the left arm and several times on both his legs.
Ronelle Marais, his mother, said this was not the first time he had been attacked by the dog. She said the first incident occurred in June, and he was bitten on the leg. He managed to escape without extensive injuries.
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Marais said Kaleb was standing with his cousins and other children, who live on the same road, outside their property gate.
“It was Guy Fawkes Day and they were setting off fireworks. From what we were told, the dog ran out when someone at our neighbour’s house opened the gate and it charged towards the children.
“The dog pushed my son down to the ground while biting him on the legs. Kaleb fought him off, but the dog kept lunging towards his face. He punched at the animal while lying on his back, but the dog grabbed hold of his arm and bit a chunk of Kaleb’s flesh,” she said.
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Marais said Kaleb, a Grade 6 learner at Collingwood Primary School, was rushed to hospital.
“He received multiple stitches on the legs, as well as tetanus and rabies injections. I have to take him to the clinic for his arm wound to be cleaned and bandaged every second day. He also receives physiotherapy to strengthen his legs.”
Marais said this incident deeply impacted on their family.
“My child is in a lot of pain, and is unable to sleep due to the trauma. He is also meant to write his final year exams this week, but he cannot concentrate on his studies,” she said.
Marais said she hoped what happened to her child would caution dog owners to be more responsible, especially those who own power breeds.
She said they were happy when the dog was removed by metro police a few days later.
“This should be a message to all owners to be more responsible and ensure their pets are properly fenced in,” she said.
Marais added that if the number of deaths caused by pitbulls continues to increase, the breed should be banned.
Last month, the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation launched a petition calling for the banning of the breed. The petition has since garnered almost 50 000 signatures.
Tanya Fleischer, the marketing manager at the Durban and Coast SPCA, said animal-related complaints in regards to breaking of by-laws should be directed to the municipality or metro police.
“Municipalities are responsible for complaints regarding stray or aggressive animals, dogs chasing vehicles or people, animals being a nuisance or attacking people.
“We recommend that complaints are in writing so that there is record of the complaint. The mandate of the SPCA is to prevent cruelty to animals and has no jurisdiction in terms of the municipal by-laws,” she said.
Metro police did not comment at the time of publishing.
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