By Vivian Attwood
Phoenix schoolboy Akshaye Janeth, 9, has reason to smile once more, six months after a terrifying mauling by his neighbour's pitbull terriers.
Akshaye was running an errand to a local corner shop when the pack of large dogs attacked without provocation.
Before they were finally pulled off the terrified child, he sustained severe injuries to his scalp, face, arms and legs.
An appalled bystander who wishes to withhold his identity described the scene as "nightmarish". The man could not dislodge the fiercest of the animals until its owner appeared on the scene.
"The dog was licking the child's blood. It was a ghastly scene that I will always remember," he said.
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Repeated calls to ambulance services were not responded to, and Akshaye, who was bleeding profusely and in deep shock, was taken to Addington Hospital by a passer-by.
Due to a shortage of ward space, he was sent home with painkillers once doctors had bandaged his wounds.
Akshaye lives in constrained financial circumstances with his unemployed single mother, Shirley, and two younger siblings.
When the Daily News visited the Janeth family the day after Akshaye's ordeal, the child had retreated into his shell, and was in considerable pain.
On the right side of his face, his teeth were visible through the stitches of a particularly savage gash.
On reading about Akshaye's plight a number of well-wishers contacted the newspaper to offer their assistance.
A Cape Town benefactor, whose own young son is terminally ill, said he wanted to assist others in difficulty. He pledged an amount of money to help "fill the gaps" in Akshaye's recovery.
This week Akshaye learned that his school fees for this year, and also his stationery and uniform none of which his mother could afford were to be paid for by his anonymous Cape Town friend.
And a well-known local advocate managed to arrange plastic reconstructive surgery to remove the worst of Akshaye's scars. She also organised counselling for him from a child psychologist to deal with the after-effects of his harrowing experience.
"I am incredibly grateful to all these kind people for opening their hearts to my son," said Shirley Janeth.
On a visit to the newspaper yesterday, Akshaye was finally able to offer a shy smile. His scars were no longer vivid reminders of the attack.
- This article was originally published on page 5 of Daily News on January 18, 2008
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