Khayelitsha girl, 6, mauled by neighbour’s pitbull

A KHAYELITSHA child was left with a severely scarred face after she was attacked by the neighbour’s pitbull.

Latasha Mlumei, mother of the 6-year-old girl said the child has been treated at Melomed Hospital in Gatesville.

Mlumei declined to have her daughter’s name published.

A friend of Mlumei reported the matter to the SPCA who in turn referred her to the City Of Cape Town’s Animal Control Unit.

The girl, as a result of the attack, has experienced severe damage on the right side of her face and had to undergo ten hours of surgery. According to the little girl’s mother her daughter was attacked while playing outside close to the dog.

“I told him (neighbour) that I am not going to accept his apology because he has four big dogs that are dangerous.” Mlumei said.The incident has also shocked the SPCA.

“In terms of the city’s by-laws a dog which has been seized or impounded and which is found by the authorised official to be ferocious, vicious or dangerous, may be destroyed,” Belinda Abraham, SPCA spokesperson, said.

The city’s director for safety and security Richard Bosman said the matter was first reported to the SAPS in Harare, Khayelitsha and then to the City’s Law Enforcement Animal Control Unit.

The officers reported that the dog had already been put down at that time. – Staff Reporter