5-yr-old mauled by 15 stray dogs

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5-yr-old mauled by 15 stray dogs

 

 

Bhiwandi boy suffers over 100 bites on his tiny body after vicious attack; he

had ventured out of his home at 2 am while his family slept

By Lata Mishra

Posted On Saturday, August 08, 2009 at 03:22:23 AM

 

 

 

 

Avinash Patil (l) was heading to his uncle’s house when he was attacked. He was

rescued by neighbours who heard his screams

 

A five-year-old boy was savaged by a pack of 15 stray dogs in Bhiwandi early

Friday morning. He sustained over 100 puncture wounds, and chunks of his flesh

were bitten off in the brutal attack.

 

Just hours before the incident, Avinash Patil had been tucked into bed by his

family. However, at 2 am, the child awoke longing for his uncle.

 

Avinash tiptoed to the door and bravely ventured out alone, thinking he would

walk the short distance to his uncle’s place. However, on his way, he was

spotted by the ferocious canines.

 

The dogs started barking at him and followed him as he walked down the road.

Terrified, Avinash started to run, but was no match for the pack.

 

His uncle Rohidas Patil said that residents heard Avinash’s screams for help and

rushed to his rescue. Recalling the horror, he said: “When I reached the spot, I

saw the dogs had not only bitten him, but had also eaten into his scalp and

thighs.”

 

Avinash, who had fallen unconscious, was rushed to the nearby Padgha Government

Hospital. “However, doctors there refused to treat him. They told us the

hospital did not have an emergency facility or the anti-rabies vaccine Avinash

needed, and asked us to take him to another hospital,” said Patil.

 

The distraught family then took Avinash to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital at

Bhiwandi, but got the same reply there. Meanwhile, the boy’s condition worsened

due to continuous bleeding.

 

Finally, by 4 am, they reached Sion hospital and had him admitted. Doctors

sutured his thigh and calf in an hour-long procedure and administered an

immunoglobulin injection to prevent infection.

 

Acting Dean of Sion hospital, Dr S merchant, said: “A large portion of his scalp

was missing, and the wounds on his thigh and scalp were almost 2 cm deep. There

are multiple bites on his whole body, including his stomach, hand, back and on

his forehead.”

 

Avinash is now out of danger but has to continue taking anti-rabies shots. “He

will be under observation for 14 days and must see the paediatrician twice a

day, to check for symptoms of rabies. We will also do plastic surgery for his

scalp,” added Dr Merchant.

 

What BMC’s doing

 

This incident took place under the jurisdiction of the Thane Zilla Parishad.

However, in Mumbai, too, more than 50,000 cases of dog bites are recorded every

year. The BMC – whose decision to kill strays was stayed by the Supreme Court –

has stepped up its sterilisation programme to control the population and reduce

attacks on humans.

 

“We have sterilised 33,000 dogs in 2008 as compared to 13,000 in 2007. This

year, in just six months, we have touched the 20,000-mark,” said Dr Gourish

Ambe, BMC’s joint executive health officer.

However, though the dogs are vaccinated for rabies during sterilisation, the

vaccine is effective for only one year

 

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Thank you for your compassion !

With best regards,

Debasis Chakrabarti

Compassionate Crusaders Trust

http://www.animalcrusaders.org