Rottweiler bite leaves young boy 'scared to go outside'

Published on Wednesday 4 November 2009 08:54

A DOG owner has been charged after a Rottweiler attack on a young boy which left him hospitalised for two days.

The incident happened in West Granton and left the eight-year-old boy with arm injuries.

He spent two days recovering in the Sick Kids hospital.

The youngster and his mother had been shopping for a pumpkin on Hallowe'en when a dog attacked him outside a supermarket. Police and an ambulance were called to the scene.

His 40-year-old mother said the attack by the animal has left her child scared to leave the house.

She said: "We were just walking along when the dog grabbed at my son's arm and started shaking him.

"The owner pulled the dog off him in seconds but it was such a violent attack it left two puncture wounds that were so deep they nearly went down to the bone.

"The hospital said the injury would have been a lot worse if my son had not been wearing his padded bomber jacket, but he will still be scarred for life. This incident has left him extremely traumatised and he has not dared to go outside since it happened."

The young boy, who was discharged from the hospital on Monday, is now taking two sets of antibiotics three times a day and will be off school for up to two weeks.

He said: "I'm still in pain and it hurts a lot. I'd like to go back to school but I'm told I can't right now. I am scared to go outside in case a dog tries to bite me again."

The victim's mother said she wanted to thank staff at the Sick Kids and two teenage girls who stopped to help at the scene.

She added: "I don't think there should be any second chances for any dog that behaves like this.

"I am hoping it will be put down so it can't cause this sort of pain again."

A police spokesman said a woman had been charged under Section 49 of the Civic (Scotland) Act, which means they will be summoned to court.

He said: "Police were called to an incident that happened in West Granton Road on Saturday afternoon where a dog bit an eight-year-old child on the arm.

"The child was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children for treatment, and has since been discharged. A 48-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the incident, and she will appear at court at a later date."

If the owner is found guilty, the animal will be detained by the court or put down.