Seven-year-old Marcus Thomas was playing with his toy cars when his next door neighbour's two-year-old blue heeler squeezed through a hole under the fence shortly after 6pm on Wednesday.
The little boy screamed and tried to run but ended up tripping over, with the cattle dog attacking him from behind and mauling the backs of his thighs.
Hearing Marcus' screams, the dog's owner rushed out and called his dog off as the boy's terrified mum rang paramedics, who rushed Marcus to Wyong Hospital.
He was discharged yesterday after surgery to close several large puncture wounds but remains in pain and is unable to walk or sit down. His dad Ricky Thomas feared Marcus would have long-term psychological scarring.
He said children should have the right to play safely in their own backyard.
The family moved into the house on Hasluck Ave, Watanobbi, on the central coast a year ago and ''never had a problem'' with the dog - named Dusty - until Wednesday evening's attack.
A Wyong Council spokesman said the dog was declared dangerous and its owner had been issued a $550 on-the-spot fine.
He said the owner faced a further $275 fine because the dog was not registered.
''The owner was offered the opportunity to surrender the dog but they haven't done that at this stage,'' he said.
But Mr Thomas said the fines were of ''little comparison to what their dog has done to my son''.
"Marcus can't walk and starts to cry when he hears it bark,'' he said.
The owner, who has children of her own, declined to comment yesterday.
Marcus, who was due to start Year 2 at Wyong Public School in a few weeks, faces lengthy rehabilitation
(The Daily Telegraph - Jan 9, 2014)
I doubt the dog would have attacked if the little boy hadn't run. Cattle dogs herd cattle and sheep and has the instinct to bite or nip at heels or thighs if the "animal" is running. Thus the dog did nothing wrong, and neither did the little boy.
ReplyDeleteeat shit cunt
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