A 7 -year-old boy who was mauled by a pit bull dog at Pequen-Peddem, Anjuna succumbed to his injuries on Thursday evening.
The child Prabhas Kalangutkar had accompanied his mother to the house where she worked. There the dog attacked him. The incident occurred at around 5 pm. The dog bit him on his hand, neck and cheek causing severe injuries.
He was immediately rushed to the North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa and later shifted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, where he succumbed to his injuries.The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for stricter regulations on dangerous dog breeds.
According to Premanand Kalangutkar, Prabhas's father, the attack occurred when Prabhas, accompanied by his mother, visited a neighboring house. The pit bull, which had been left unattended, viciously attacked the boy, initially biting his neck before turning to his face and mouth. During the assault, Prabhas's mother attempted to intervene by climbing a fence to escape. Despite frantic efforts from bystanders and immediate transportation to GMC in an ambulance, Prabhas succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
The tragedy has deeply affected the local community, with many expressing anger and demanding stringent regulations for the ownership of aggressive dog breeds. Premanand Kalangutkar revealed that this pit bull had previously attacked another child, who fortunately survived. The dog's owner had reportedly warned Prabhas's mother about the dog's aggressive nature, but it remains unclear why the dog was left free at the time of the attack.
I will write to the police to investigate the matter and initiate stern action against the dog ownerAgnes Carvalho- Panchayat Member
I will discuss with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant if some regulations and restrictions can be imposed on owners keeping such ferocious dogs as pets in a bid to prevent such incidentsNilkanth Halarnkar - Animal Husbandry Minister
It may be recollected that last September, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said that the government was considering banning certain aggressive breeds of dogs that posed a danger to humans and also they might not be vaccinated.
The comment was made following an instance that took place in late August, when a Rottweiler breed dog jumped over the gate of a house and attacked two children, leaving one seriously injured.
Pit Bull Breed Controversy
Pit bulls, a term referring to several dog breeds including the English bull terrier, American bulldog, boxer, American pit bull terrier, and American Staffordshire terrier, are known for their aggressive tendencies. Originating from the British Isles in the early 1800s, pit bulls were historically used in the cruel sport of bull-baiting, which was banned in 1835. Today, these breeds are considered dangerous and are banned in 30 countries, including Uk, France, Australia, and New Zealand, due to their propensity for violence and attacks.