Her hair has been shaved off and her face is stitched up. She does not smile like she used to because it hurts to do so.
Her days are spent in and out of hospital and she rarely gets to play like before.
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| GABRIELLA (5) of Glen Marais was attacked by an Alsatian. The animal has not been removed from the property where the incident took place. Gabby after the dog attack. |
Five-year-old Gabriella of Glen Marais was attacked by an Alsatian. The dog tore her face open, damaging her facial muscles and nerves.
Gabriella has had to undergo over 10 hours of facial surgery and is due for more constructive surgery.
Her mother Nikita said on the weekend of October 30 her family was invited for a braai at her fiancé's family's home on Atlas Road.
"We were all standing in the yard while the children were playing. All of a sudden the dog jumped on my daughter.
"The men tried to get it away from her and in those seconds the damage was done. I had my daughter's blood all over me and we rushed her to hospital," said Alberts.
Two days later Alberts reported the incident to Kempton Park SAPS with the intent of having the dog removed from the property.
She said she assumed the police would immediately remove the animal or inform her on the steps to take to have it removed.
Instead, a week later a police officer contacted Alberts, reprimanding her of being an unfit mother.
"He accused me of being a negligent mother. He said I did not deserve to have a child. He was rude and didn't tell me his name. I kept asking but he refused.
"I found his conduct shocking and appalling. Does he know what we've been through? There were witnesses to the incident. We were all standing around the children when the dog just attacked," said Alberts.
The next day Alberts received an SMS stating a case had been opened and an investigation would be conducted.
According to her she was informed by the police that the dog could not be blamed. Alberts believes the police are purposely making it difficult for her to get the dog removed.
"What if the dog attacks another child or person? I can't even reassure my daughter that the dog is gone. She asks me every day whether it is still there. My daughter now has to live with the physical and emotional scars for the rest of her life."
Capt Jethro Mtshali, Kempton Park SAPS spokesman, said the police did not have the authority to remove the dog.
"An investigation will be held, statements taken from the dog owner and people who were there. The docket will then be sent to court for a decision to charge the owner of the dog or not.
"As for the allegations that Nikita was accused of being unfit, we refute this and do not have any record of her being contacted by our police officers," said Mtshali.
(Kempton Express - Oct 17, 2010)
