Cape Town -
A pitbull terrier attacked a teenage boy as he swam near a boat ramp in Hout Bay on Sunday, NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said.
“Once the dog got hold of him, it would not let go. A bystander took the top jaw of the dog and another took the bottom jaw and they prised the jaws open to free the teenager’s leg. It appears the dog and its owner left the scene,” Lambinon said.
Emergency Medical Services took the teenager to Victoria Hospital, where he was treated and discharged.
Police did not know of the incident, spokesman Andre Traut said.
Hout Bay Community Police forum member Roscoe Jacobs said: “Dogs on the beach are a big problem. There are areas for walking dogs, but there is no control. People don’t care. They take over the entire beach.
“The other evening, I was walking on the beach when a big dog charged at me. The owner called it back and while I was talking to him, the dog went and bit someone else. The council must enforce by-laws.”
In January, Bridgetown toddler Meeka Riley Lackay was mauled by a Rottweiler on Clifton Beach and later had four hours of surgery. A month later, the animal’s owner, who called himself the “Dog Shaman”, had the dog put down.
Cape Times