SOUTH AFRICA -- 79-year-old woman is suing a North West couple for R234 000 after she was attacked by their dogs four years ago, The Citizen reported on Friday.
In court papers, Hester Nel from Mooinooi said she had undergone emergency surgery after Gert and Maria van der Linde's male and female Boerboels attacked her in April 2009.
Nel sustained various deep lacerations and abrasions to her head, arms, hands, legs and feet, as well as numerous ligament injuries to her legs and feet, according to the newspaper.
She was first taken to a general practitioner, after which she was transferred to a private hospital where she had surgery. She was treated for five days.
Some of her wounds became septic and required further medical treatment.
According to the court papers, Nel had suffered disfiguring scars for which she needed reconstructive surgery. She also suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Nel alleged that the dogs either acted contrary to the nature of their class, or that the owners had been negligent.
The Van der Lindes denied any negligence and said Nel was to blame for the attack. They claimed Nel was warned about the dogs and told to phone before she entered the premises.
The civil claim was postponed in the North Gauteng High Court indefinitely.
(News24 - Aug 9, 2013)
