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Meeka Riley, 2, holds her father Keagan Peterss hand before being wheeled into surgery. She was attacked by a dog on Cliftons First Beach. Photo: Candice Chaplin
A two-year-old girl has had emergency surgery after being attacked by a Rottweiler at one of Cape Town’s most popular beaches.
What started as a fun day at Clifton’s First Beach for Meeka Riley and her aunt, Liska October, turned into a terrifying ordeal when one of three unleashed Rottweilers roaming the beach attacked the child.
Meeka, an only child, was rushed to Cape Town Medi-Clinic. On Wednesday night, her concerned parents, Chanell Riley and Keagan Peters, were at her bedside, waiting for her to be taken into surgery.
Meeka was heavily sedated, drifting in and out of sleep as her mother sobbed.
The little girl’s cheeks and forehead are badly bruised. The dog dragged her along the sand.
October said the attack happened at about 12.30pm on Wednesday. She and Meeka were standing in shallow water, chatting.
“I looked away from her for just a second. When I looked back at her a Rottweiler was clutching her leg. (The dog) started dragging her towards the sand. I froze… the next thing I knew I was on top of the dog, struggling to get it off her leg.
“Meeka started screaming and then she went quiet. A crowd formed around us, people trying to pull the dog away, and then I lost sight of her.
“Suddenly I heard her calling my name. I just went to her and held her. A huge chunk of her upper leg was missing.”
October said an off-duty doctor passing by rushed to help, and tried to keep the little girl conscious. Meeka had repeatedly told her aunt: “Liska, I want to sleep.”
“I never saw the dog coming. If I did I would have kept Meeka away from it because she is terrified of dogs.”
October said she had seen the dog and two others before the attack, with two men who appeared to be walking them. None of the dogs was on a leash, she said.
“I never thought something like this would happen at Clifton beach… I have been here many times.”
Riley said she was shocked when she got a phone call at work from a friend telling her that Meeka was in hospital.
“When I got here she was moaning as if in pain but not really waking up. She was bitten four times on her leg and she needs plastic surgery,” she said on Wednesday night.
On Thursday morning, Riley told the Cape Argus that her daughter had come out of the operating theatre at about 11pm.
“The doctor said the operation went well. He said the dog’s teeth just missed the main nerve in her leg, so she would have been paralysed if it had been closer.
“She’s on a drip for the pain, so she will be okay for now. But she’s very traumatised, so she needs counselling.
“All she says is that ‘my leg is in pain! My leg is in pain!’
“We are pressing charges at Camps Bay (police station) today (Thursday), because we don’t agree that any dog should be on the beach without a leash.
“What if all three dogs had attacked my child? She would have been dead today,” she said.
Riley said the owner of the dog had visited Meeka in hospital and offered to pay her hospital bills.
Meeka’s godmother, Melissa Herman, described the child as “a two-year-old going on 15. It’s hard seeing her like this in bed because she has so much energy and is always running around the neighbourhood”.
At the beach, two hours after the attack, a group of people contracted to clean the beach, and who asked not to be named, said they had seen two men walking three “very dangerous looking dogs”.
They noticed a little girl standing on the edge of the water with an older woman.
“The men with dogs walked past them and then on their way back one of the dogs just went for the little girl’s leg. The dog held on and didn’t want to let go of the girl until a group of men pulled him off her. She was just screaming.”
Disaster Management spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said the city was investigating the circumstances of the attack.
He described the dog’s owner as co-operative.
Nathan Ladegourdie, Cape Town’s acting chief of Law Enforcement and Specialised Services, said the dog had been impounded at 9 on Wednesday night.
Neil Arendse, the assistant chief of Specialised Law Enforcement Services, said the dog was being kept at the city’s dog pound in Atlantis and would be handed over to the SPCA on Thursday.
He confirmed that the dog’s owner had been breaking the law by walking his dogs on Clifton Beach.
He had contravened the beach’s rules determined by its Blue Flag status, and by the Seashore Act. – Additional reporting by Murray Williams
nontando.mposo@inl.co.za - Cape Argus
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Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous** , wrote
First of all, it was a really hot day outside and the poor animals’ feet are very sensitive, so he will become agitated!! You don’t take your dog out for a walk in the middle of a heat wave!! IDIOT! Yes he should have been on a leash, but looks like the owner is the one that must be on the leash as well! But this is not the poor animals fault! He cannot put the leash on himself and did not ask to go for a walk! This is the owners’ responsibility! This so called “Dog Whisperer” should know all of these things! He is giving these lovable animals a bad name because of his lack! The child should not have been left without supervision, also a lack of responsibility! This is both parties fault!! The dog was tense and should have been on a leash and the child should not have been left alone! Blame both of them! Not just one!
Anonymous, wrote
Raven you obviously have selected "hearing", I did not say that the owner of the dog easNOT in the wrong, he is wrong , what I'm saying that stories are NOT consistent. Why don't you comment on the fact that a two year old was left alone on the beach while the caretakers are frolicking in the sea. Here is two definate cases that need to be investgated , and remember there are no lifeguards on 1st beach only on 4th beach, I wouldn't leave my 3 year old granddaughter standing alone on the beach while I enjoy a swim, in fact I wouldn't let go of her hand when she is close to the water! Here is clearly a case of gross negligence that should also be looked at. What would your comment have been had she drowned?
Anonymous, wrote
Pity i wasn't there. I would've killed that beast with my bare hands by drowning the thing cos I've been in a couple of dog fights myself. The Boerbulls though are a bit of a hand full cos they so heavy.
Raven, wrote
to Anonymous who wrote a comment at 12.38pm today - You are heartless!!! A child was hurt. Does it really matter if it was four dogs or three, if the wounds were deep or just puncture wounds? Simple point is a child got hurt and traumatised and frankly could have been killed because some idiot was walking his dogs on a public beach without leashes and it appears to have been the 2nd time a child was attached by one of his dogs. Clearly he did not learn his lesson the first time or he just doesnt care. He should be held accountable, not the child or her parents or the dog.
Claire, wrote
I am an animal lover and have had dogs my whole life, but if it was my child I would also do anything to protect her. The owner is to blame for not having a clue as to how to train his dog. Its a pity because some dogs are great on the beach and wouldn't harm a fly.
Anonymous, wrote
This was an extremely unfortunate event as Rottweilers are Not agressive nature , my kids grew upvwith a Rottweiler and my grandchildren are growing up with two Rottis, no excuse for the dog being off leash on a blue flag beach, Mr Lech should have known better BUT why was a two year old left standing at rocks on her own while the aunt her boyfriend went in for a swim on a beach where there are life guards? Maybe social services should look into this? If one reads the comment by emergency services the child had puncture wounds(terrible) !! It did not sound as if the child was mauled then she should've been dead! The sory is constantly changing from 3 rottweilers to four dogs, which is it?
stuart, wrote
I have personally dealt with the Owner of this dog he is the so called Dog Whisper (James Lech) this is not the first time his dog has attacked a small child view article with video here http:www.timeslive.co.zasundaytimes20110717dog-mauls-girl-4-in-mall. This shows the truth. Second he charges a massive fee for his service and it is all a big CON he is a fake and should be held responsible for what has happened TWICE!!!!!!
MarsWarrior, wrote
If dog breeding was properly controlled in South Africa, and dog owners were generally responsible, one could still allow dogs on beaches. The unfortunate truth is, that none of aforementioned rings true in our country. Dogs should be expressly forbidden on public beaches and ALL holiday resorts, and people walking large dogs in public areas without leashes should be arrested!
Anonymous, wrote
We have a Rottie at home and she's lovely! Unfortunately she doesn't like kids (coz she thinks she's the baby of the family) so we don't let her near any! Rotties are not a vicious breed. There's always 1 or 2 which give them a bad name!! I grew up with a Rottie and used to ride on his back. It's terrible what happened to meeka, but not all Rottie's are like that. And those dogs should have been on leads!!
Anonymous, wrote
Some dog owners sound very aggressive in their response and arrogant about people wanting to walk the beaches freely. These dogs are obviously trained to attack when guarding. Why should they be allowed on beaches were people are having fun or are you guys detering people purposefully.
Anonymous, wrote
Poor dog, my ass! These monsters have killer instinct bred into them. They shouldn't be allowed near public beaches, with or without leashes!
AG, wrote
@letthemgo, wrote
You dimwit not all animals are wild and are certainly not capable of fending for themselves.
Viv, wrote
Don't blame and punish the dog, it is the owners fault. The simple solution is to neuter the owner, they do it to dogs all the time.
Anonymous, wrote
Sorry to hear about the child. I hope she has a speedy recovery. but realistically speaking the dogs are not to blame. The owners are. Often animals get blamed by being put down for the negligence of their human owners. these owners need to be prosecuted not the dogs. Rotties are not attack dogs rather they are working class breed of dog, with a wonderful disposition. they are great with kids and people.
Anonymous, wrote
and the poor dogs get the blame ..not the STUPID OWNERS...hope the little girl gets well soon
Anonymous, wrote
The dog should have been on a leash, the owner is responsible. I feel for the child, and for the poor animal who will now be put down because of the owners neglect. Rottweilers are normally such loving and playful dogs, it all depends on the way they are trained.
DJ, wrote
To all the dog owners who feel their animals have more rights than a 2 year old child: If your dog is off it's leash in a public place, and bites, charges or growls at my kids, I will take my pistol out and shoot it in front of you. Simple as that.
LetThemGo, wrote
Humans want to enslave anything and everything. Animals are suppose to be in the wild. simple and klaar!! Animal lovers my foot.
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