Toddler dies after attack by five dogs
A three-year-old girl has died after she was attacked by a pack of dogs at the Marathon informal settlement in Ekurhuleni.
On Friday, the toddler was walking alone through a narrow passage in the settlement when five dogs attacked her.
"Despite any efforts to assist her, the child sadly succumbed to her injuries later the same day," said Ward 93 councillor Geoffrey Mthembu.
"I visited both the bereaved family and the scene of the incident earlier today (Sunday) to offer my condolences and assess the situation firsthand. It is important to note that this marks the third reported incident involving the same group of dogs in this area.
"The two previous incidents involved other children, who fortunately survived, though with trauma. The dogs have been repeatedly described by the community as highly aggressive and dangerous."
Following Friday’s attack, members of the community took matters into their own hands by demolishing the shacks believed to belong to the owners of the dogs, killing seven puppies.
"While I understand the anger and deep frustration experienced by residents, especially after multiple warnings and previous attacks, I urge the community to allow the appropriate authorities to intervene in such cases," Mthembu pleaded.
He said they will be visiting their local SPCA to request urgent intervention regarding handling and removing the dogs.
"This heartbreaking incident has raised serious concerns around animal control, public safety, and the need for urgent municipal intervention. We call on the relevant departments within the City of Ekurhuleni, including Environmental Health, Animal Control, Social Development, and Community Safety, to work with us to address this matter swiftly and decisively."
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