Dog remains at large after savage attack on young boy

Dog remains at large after savage attack on young boy

19 August 2015

A DOG which savagely attacked an 11 year-old autistic boy in Downpatrick six weeks ago has been allowed to remain in the housing estate where the incident took place.

Patrick Crane needed surgery on horrific leg injuries after being attacked while playing in a friend’s garden in the Model Farm estate in July. One of the dog bites came close to severing an artery in his leg and the child eventually left hospital with 20 stitches in his wounds.

However, Newry Mourne and Down Council officials have been criticised for allowing the Staffordshire-type dog to remain with his owners rather than removing it to council kennels while an investigation is carried out.

Patrick’s mother, Lisa, says her son is now receiving counselling but is finding it hard to get over the incident because he can see the dog every day from an upstairs window in his home.

The incident occurred on July 8 as Patrick was playing at the home of a friend whose family own the dog. 

The dog attacked Patrick in the garden and Lisa was on her way to the house when she met the dog’s owner carrying Patrick in his arms.

“He advised me not to look at his leg but I did and was left in complete shock,” she said. “I tried to place Patrick in my car to take him to hospital but couldn’t due to the state I was in. 

“Someone then rang for an ambulance and after treating Patrick, paramedics took him to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he was operated on the following day.”

When Patrick and his mum returned home the owner of the dog told her the council dog warden had been in touch and the animal was being assessed.

“Three days after the incident I was speaking with the owner again who claimed while the wardens had been in touch, there would be no further action. This left me very upset.

“When I spoke with a council enforcement official I believed the matter was being investigated, but was informed no formal complaint had been made. I was also informed council officials had been advised by their lawyers not to remove the dog which bit Patrick as it was on private property. 

“But it’s my understanding they have the power to do this if they apply for a warrant.”

Lisa said while her son recovers from his horrific injury, she is concerned council officials “appear to be doing nothing” in the wake of what happened, accusing them of “failing her son.”

She continued: “I believe affirmative action should have been taken by now but it hasn’t. I have had dog wardens at my door checking if my dog is licensed and while council officials have apologised and insisted this should not have happened, it did and has compounded the entire situation.

“I have been told the incident is under investigation, but it’s my view the dog which bit my son should have been impounded pending its outcome. I feel my son has been let down by the so-called super council. It is not super as far as we are concerned.”

Lisa added: “Over six weeks after Patrick was bitten nothing appears to be happening and no action taken after what was a frightening incident for me and my son. What’s more important, my son’s welfare and wellbeing or the rights of the dog which bit him?”

A Newry, Mourne and Down Council spokeswoman said it cannot comment on the case as an investigation into what happened is ongoing.

“The Council has a statutory obligation to enforce the Dogs Order and in doing so is committed to protecting the health and safety of the public,” she continued. “While we understand the obvious distress an alleged dog attack may cause, particularly where the injured party is a child, the Council is satisfied that the measures which have been put in place pending the conclusion of the investigation are sufficient so as to protect the public. It would be inappropriate for the Council to comment further.”