Family shock after Husky attacks son
By Lynda O'Donoghue Donnelly
A FAMILY is warning parents with young children to be vigilant after a Husky dog injured a seven-year-old boy recently.
The youngster was playing with a paper plane when the toy accidently flew into a garden on the Boot Road in Clondalkin and the boy went to retrieve it.
However, a dog which was restrained inside the garden by the owners pounced on the seven-year-old, causing him a number of injuries.
The boy’s aunt, Selina O’Brien, told The Echo that the family were shocked by the attack which took place close to their home.
She said: “Gardaí were patrolling nearby and they came and up and helped clean him up. He passed out from his injuries and was taken to hospital where he needed 10 stitches.
“He had bite marks on his back, head, arm and leg. The dog threw him around like a rag-doll. My brother said if it was his younger son there would have been no hope for him.”
Gardaí investigated the incident and confirmed to The Echo that the dog was restrained on the owner’s property at the time of the incident.
A spokesman for the Gardaí said: “It is a civil matter as there is no offence there. Gardaí helped out as best we could on the day and first aid was administered. The matter was investigated and CCTV was looked at, but it is a civil matter.”
Mary Maguire, Environment Department South Dublin County Council, confirmed that Gardaí had contacted the dog warden in relation to the attack.
Ms Maguire said: “It is understood that the incident took place on private property, namely the grounds of the dog owner on the Boot Road, where the dog was being held under effectual control. Therefore the council has no remit in relation to this civil incident.”
Ms O’Brien told The Echo that the family own dogs themselves and want to warn people about allowing children near unfamiliar dogs – even if are tied up.
She said: “My nephew was never afraid of dogs before, I have a German shepherd and an Akita that is 10 weeks old so I am trying to bring him around, but he is still very fearful. He even asked for his granda’s Jack Russell to be taken out of the house when he was there.”
