Durban – A Mayville family is still in shock after their pet pit bull turned on siblings, killing one and critically wounding the other at the weekend.
The siblings, Talia, 6, and 3-year-old Eslene Naidoo were playing outside their grandmother’s house when they were viciously mauled.
Their parents drop them off at their grandmother’s house every Saturday as they work on weekends.
It is not clear what transpired between the children and the dogs, but one of the dogs turned on the children.
Naidoo’s grandfather, Cyril Hughes, said the dog first attacked Talia but when Eslene came out, the dog turned on her. Talia managed to run away. However, he was bitten on his face.
Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for Rescue Care, said the brother sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital before the arrival of paramedics.
“The 3-year-old was in a critical condition and despite the fervent efforts by Advanced Life Support medics, the girl went into cardiac arrest."
“Medics worked for 40 minutes to resuscitate her."
“Sadly she was declared dead at the scene,” said Jamieson.
Speaking to the Daily News, Hughes said Talia was taken to a local hospital where he is set to undergo surgery on Monday.
“He was bitten on his face and the family was all at the hospital,” he said.
Residents were outraged when word of the attack went viral on social media. Many took to Facebook and argued pit bulls should not be kept as pets. More than 12 600 people viewed the post, while 48 residents weighed in on the tragic incident via the Daily News Facebook page.
Jai Charl Matura said the matter was “utterly horrific”.
“I cannot imagine what those parents are feeling right now. To lose a child at the age of 3... knowing all of their dreams for her, just to be ruined and destroyed by a dog that should have been banned. The owners should receive the maximum punishment – life in prison – for having an uncontrollable dog. My heart is shattered from just hearing this tragic news. I will not wish this for my worst enemy,” Matura posted.
Klaus Bohm felt animal pet laws were “useless”. “Dogs do not just attack. This is ignorance in an extremely toothless society. Implementation of the way pets are cared for, is the key. There is no way a well-cared for dog did this. Law and order. Do not make stupid excuses”.
Despite the uproar on social media, the Pit Bull Federation of South Africa stood firm in their belief that pit bulls were not aggressive, however they warned owners to always protect their children when around them.
“We also very strongly speak against the ‘nanny dog myth’ that has been around where people believe that these dogs are good around children. We always need to remember that they are still dogs. And while they tolerate a lot more than other dogs when they snap, they do cause serious damage, said Lins Rautenbach, PBFSA spokesperson.
She said pit bulls were not raised to be guard dogs and that owners try to make the dogs aggressive to protect their property.
“A true well-bred pit bull shows no human aggression. Owners need to be aware that there are consequences for teaching or making their dogs aggressive,” said Rautenbach.