Chennai: A five-year-old girl was seriously injured when two Rottweiler dogs viciously attacked her in a park here and three people, including the animal’s owner, were arrested, police said on Monday.
The girl, who is the daughter of a security guard, was playing in the park in the Thousand Lights area on Sunday evening when the two Rottweilers pounced on her. Hearing her screams, the girl’s mother and a few passers-by rushed to the child’s rescue and freed her from the clutches of the “dangerous” breed.
The Commissioner of the Greater Chennai Corporation, Dr J Radhakrishnan, who visited the girl at the hospital, announced that the civic body will bear the cost of her treatment.
“Three people, including the owner of the two Rottweilers, have been arrested by the police for investigation. The GCC will crack down on pet owners who have not obtained licenses from the corporation or sterilized the dogs,” Radhakrishnan said.
The child is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. “Currently her condition is stable, but she is in a lot of pain. Her scalp was torn for 11 inches and she was bitten on the cheeks and other places,” Radhakrishnan said.
The civic body treated the incident as a threat to stray dogs and acted accordingly as it was a clear case of negligence on the part of the pet owner.
“Once her condition is stabilized, the doctors will decide to take plastic surgery on her,” added the Commissioner.
Before speaking to reporters, he said the central government had in March sent a communication to all state chief secretaries asking them to ban the import or sale of 23 breeds of ferocious dogs including the Pitbull, Rottweiler, Terrier and Mastiff and their cross breeds. as well.
Such dangerous breeds of dogs should be kept on leashes he said and warned of strict action against the owners of the animals if due licenses were not obtained from the corporation.
Published May 6, 2024, 12:27 p.m STI
