Pet dogs attack child in Chennai park; owner, two held

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Corporation Commissioner Dr J Radhakrishnan, who visited the girl at the hospital, said the civic body would treat the incident as a stray dog menace and act accordingly since it was a clear case of negligence on the part of the pet owner. "Currently her condition is stable but she is under great pain. Her scalp was ripped for 11 inches and she was bitten in the legs and other places.

Once her condition is stable, doctors would decide on performing plastic surgery on her," Radhakrishnan said. After the incident, a case under IPC Sections 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) was registered. Later, Pugazhendhi, his wife Dhanalakshmi (59) and son Venkatesan (30) were arrested. Pugazhendhi runs a blood bank and Venkatesan is a doctor at a private hospital in Saidapet, police said.

Corporation sources said officials will attempt to secure the two dogs and take them to a place designated by the Animal Welfare Board. Corporation authorities said the owners of the Rottweilers do not have a pet licence and vaccinations for the dogs were due. Moreover, official sources added Pugazhendhi may have been involved in illegal breeding as one of the dogs was a male and the other a female.

New norms at corporation parks

Each pet owner will be allowed to take only one dog inside a park

Pets must be leashed, muzzled at all times inside the park

Entry of stray or unleashed dogs into the park is prohibited

Dogs' access to play area in the park will be restricted

(With inputs from Nirupama Viswanathan)