Article: Five year-old attacked by stray dog

Published: Tuesday January 13, 2009 MYT 8:35:00 PM

Updated: Tuesday January 13, 2009 MYT 8:51:51 PM

By DERRICK VINESH

BUTTERWORTH: A five-year-old schoolgirl received 15 stitches on the back of her neck after being bitten by a stray dog outside her Taman Bagan flat here.

Siti Nur Aisyah Zainon was playing in a playground with her brother, Muhammad Aliff Zainon, eight, at about 6.30pm on Monday when the dog suddenly attacked and pinned her face down.

“I was riding the slide when I noticed the dog running towards my sister, who was sitting in the middle of the field, before viciously biting her on the back of the neck.

“I shouted for help and a few boys from the neighbourhood managed to chase the dog away with a stool,” he said when met at the flat Tuesday.

Muhammad Aliff said he quickly carried his sister to their parents who was manning a food stall nearby, adding that her t-shirt was soaked in blood.

Witnesses told the girl’s father, Zainon Abdullah, 57, that the brownish white dog pounced on his daughter like a tiger.

“The dog even attempted to drag her away. My daughter had tried to stop the dog from biting her further by placing her hands on the back of her neck but to no avail.

“I immediately rushed her to the Seberang Jaya Hospital’s casualty ward where she was given a tetanus shot and the 15 stitches before being allowed home,” he said.

Apart from the stitches, the little girl also had a 2cm-deep gash on her neck along with several bite marks.

His wife Maliah Sidek, 45, said her traumatised daughter could not sleep the whole night as she kept crying and screaming, “Sakit! Sakit! (Pain! Pain!), noting that the authorities should trap the dog and put it dog to sleep.

“I do not want other children to end up becoming victims as well,” she said, adding that many stray dogs loitered about the neighbourhood, especially at night.

Taman Bagan Rukun Tetangga chairman Toh Eng Leong said many children from the 600-odd flat units there, frequented the playground daily.

“We fear for the safety of our children. The flat committee should help raise funds to fence up the area.”

Seberang Prai Municipal Council assistant public health officer Mohd Awalluddin Mohd Mustafa said his team had earlier picked up three stray dogs from the neighbourhood in the morning.

“We view this matter seriously and will make more frequent rounds, including night patrolling, if necessary, to impound these dogs,” he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 13 January 2009