MAULED
Nine- year- old Jayden Collins is the battered face of the city’s dog attack epidemic
A YOUNG boy almost lost an eye after he was savagely mauled by a neighbour’s dog in Kelso.
Jayden Collins, 9, was by himself in a friend’s backyard when the staffy- cross latched on to his face, inflicting deep wounds.
Jayden underwent three hours of surgery in Townsville Hospital following the attack on Tuesday, with doctors shaving his head to clean and stitch his deep facial wounds.
The grisly attack was the latest in a worrying trend in Townsville over recent months, with 472 dog attacks reported to Townsville City Council last year.
Of those, 148 involved people and 72 caused injury.
Dad Terry said he was walking home about 5pm when his son ran screaming from the yard, covered in blood.
“There was so much blood coming from his head and it was all over him,” he said. “There’s still blood on the front driveway.”
Mr Collins said he was sad his son – who has learning difficulties and ADHD – endured the terror of the attack.
Mum Katie said she was putting her young daughters in the shower when her husband called out. Then she saw her boy covered in blood.
“I freaked out,” she said. “I went into the house to call 000, but I couldn’t call them because I was in panic mode.
“My neighbour, who is a nurse, spoke to them for me and explained to the ambulance what had happened.”
Mrs Collins said Jayden had been to the neighbour’s yard before and had not had any problems with the dog.
The dog owner’s children were at Jayden’s house when the attack occurred. The owner has apologised.
Council Healthy and Safe City Committee chair Gary Eddiehausen said the council would investigate the attack.
“Serious attacks like this are obviously distressing for all parties and inquiries will continue to establish the circumstances,” he said.
“Council officers will investigate this incident thoroughly to see what action, if any, may be taken.”
There were 11 cases involv- ing dog attacks prosecuted in the courts last week alone, and 69 cases in total last year.
Mrs Collins said she was concerned by the number of attacks involving so- called family dogs and said owners should understand what their pets were capable of doing.
Yesterday Jayden said he was feeling a bit better, but was still very sore and not happy with his new haircut.
The young Cowboys fan hopes the injuries heal so he can cheer on Queensland in the State of Origin next week.