Randfontein boy, 5, attacked by dog

The boy’s mother, Angelique Fleischer, said the attack happened last Friday when her son visited a neighbour, Randfontein Herald reported.

“We were at home when our neighbour had a get-together event and asked if I would like to send my children over because she had children coming to her house as well. I agreed, and my children went next door. We were all just standing there, and just as I was about to say goodbye to my children, the dog just went for my son,” added the victim’s mother.

The dog bit Benjamin’s head open, and he was rushed to hospital.

“You could see this dog was not interested in just biting my son. He went for the kill,” the mother said.

She added her neighbour paid for the doctor’s consultation fees. The dog has been taken to the Randfontein SPCA by the dog owner, who wanted the dog to be put down, but later changed her mind, as she said her son would take the dog, said Randfontein SPCA’s Lucy Phillips.

Phillips said the dog was in a safe holding and would be kept until the police told them what would happen with the case and advised them on what to do.

Investigations are under way.

In January, two pit bull dogs were put down by the SPCA after attacking a housekeeper in Monument, Krugersdorp, on the West Rand. The dogs attacked Elizabeth Motsumi, 53, while she was on her way to her employer’s house.

Dog owner Hendrik Zinn said he had done his best to get the dogs away from Motsumi when they attacked her, as he had been outside at the time. “I don’t know how they got into the street. They somehow managed to escape from my property through my gate,” he said.

A case was later opened at the Krugersdorp Police Station.

– Caxton News Service