Three arrested in Chennai after their pet Rottweilers attack 5-year-old girl, her mother

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The Rottweilers that attacked a five-year-old child and her mother in Nungambakkam | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Following an attack on a five-year-old child and her mother by two Rottweiler dogs in a park belonging to Chennai Corporation in Nungambakkam, Thousand Lights Police on Monday arrested the owners of the dogs, a couple and their son for negligence and endangering the lives of others.

The child, Suraksha, was with her mother, Sonia, 25, on Sunday evening at the park located on Fourth lane off Nungambakkam High Road near MOP Vaishnav College, while her father Ragu had left for his native Villupuram. Ragu has been working in the park as maintenance staff for the last eight months.

At around 8 p.m., two Rottweiler dogs, owned by S.Pugazhendhi, who lives nearby, were let out by a servant inside the park. The dogs rushed to the part of the park where the child was playing and bit her many times, police said.

The terrified child screamed for assistance and her mother Sonia who heard the cries quickly rushed towards her and attempted to shoo away the dogs. One of the dogs bit her too. Others who were in the park, came to the rescue of the mother and daughter. Both were rushed to Government Royapettah Hospital and later shifted to Apollo Hospital.

Based on a complaint, Thousand Lights Police registered a case against the owners under Sections- 289 (Negligent conduct with respect to animals) and 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code.

The owners - S. Pugazhendhi, 63, his wife P.Dhanalakshmi, 59 and their son P.Venkateshwaran, 30 were arrested. They were released on station bail in the evening.

The dog owners were not trained to handle them. They always struggled to control them. Police had already warned the family not to let the dogs in public places without a leash or muzzle, the residents said.

The family was breeding dogs in their flat and selling them for a good price. They also charged that the family used to take the Rottweilers without muzzles or with leashes, the locals said.

Meanwhile, Chennai Corporation Commissioner J. Radhakrishnan ordered officials to tighten security at the parks in the city. "Each pet owner will be restricted to take only one dog inside a park. The allowed pet should be leashed and muzzled," he said.

"Obtaining the GCC pet licence should be made mandatory. Stray or unleashed dogs entry will be prevented. Dogs access to play area in the park will be restricted," he said.