5-Year-Old Girl Injured in Rottweiler Attack Sparks Debate On Pet Owners | Image: Unsplash
Chennai: The cases of dogs attacking children are increasing every day, and a new case has been added to this series. In a harrowing incident last night in Chennai, a five-year-old girl named Sudaksha suffered serious injuries in an attack by two Rottweiler dogs in a public park in Chennai’s Thousand Lights area. This unfortunate incident has reignited the ongoing debate surrounding the ownership of aggressive breed dogs as pets.
According to the authorities, the dogs, which belong to a local resident, were released in the park when they attacked Sudaksha. The allegations suggest that the owner failed to intervene promptly, only doing so when the boy’s parents rushed to his aid and raised an alarm. Sudaksha’s father, who is employed as a security guard in the park, was also present during the incident.
Senior police officer Shekhar Deshmukh confirmed the arrest of the dog’s owner and the initiation of legal proceedings against two individuals responsible for the care of the dogs and said: “We have arrested the owner and registered a case against two others who take care of dogs.”
Sudaksha is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital for her injuries. It was revealed that the owner of the Rottweilers had not sterilized the animals, raising concerns about pet ownership.
This tragic event has brought attention to the problem of animal ownership, especially in breeds known for their aggressive tendencies. In March, the central government urged states to ban the sale and breeding of 23 such breeds, which include Pitbull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Rottweilers and Mastiffs.
In addition, pet owners with existing pets of these breeds have been ordered to sterilize them without delay. The Department of Animal Nutrition has acknowledged receiving petitions from citizen forums and Animal Welfare Organizations that support restrictions on the ownership of certain breeds of dogs.
