Chennai:
A five-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in an attack by two Rottweiler dogs at a park in Chennai last night, reigniting the debate over keeping dogs of aggressive breeds as pets. The police filed a complaint of negligence and arrested the owner of the dogs. Two others who care for the dogs have been charged in the case.
According to investigators, the incident took place in a public park in the Thousand Lights area of Chennai. The owner, they said, had let the dogs loose. The dogs attacked the child and the owner only intervened when the girl's parents rushed to her rescue and raised the alarm. The girl's father works as a security guard in the park.
“We have arrested the owner and registered a case against two others who are taking care of the dogs,” said senior police officer Shekhar Deshmukh. The two dogs can be seen on camera images from the park.
The five-year-old girl, identified as Sudaksha, is being treated at a private hospital. Police sources said the dog owner had not sterilized the Rottweilers.
The tragic incident comes at a time when attacks by ferocious breeds of pets have sparked a conversation about whether such animals should be kept as pets in residential areas.
In March, the Center asked states to ban the sale and breeding of 23 ferocious dog breeds, including Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Rottweiler and Mastiffs. The guidance added that those who already have these breeds as pets should sterilize them immediately.
The Animal Husbandry Department said it has received representations from citizen forums and animal welfare organizations to ban people from keeping certain breeds as pets.