2-y-o hospitalised after dog attack

A Clarendon father whose two-year-old son was badly bitten, allegedly by a neighbour’s dog, is livid and is demanding that owners do more to keep their animals leashed and confined within their homes.

Gregory Bryson, who lives in the central Clarendon community of Treadlight, said that doctors have indicated that his son Christophe, who has been admitted to the Bustamante Hospital for Children, may need reconstructive surgery.

The accused owners, who spoke with The Gleaner, have however expressed doubt that their animal was culpable of the attack, describing it as “a nice dog”.

Bryson painted a grim picture as he spoke of what he described as sleepless nights since his son’s hospitalisation last Tuesday.

“A now me upset ‘cause every night me come, I see the child, and fi the past couple nights well now, I don’t see him. I feel very upset about it because it’s not like him outside the yard. Him inside the yard ... him playground, and the dog leave from fi him yard and come bite him,” said the distressed father.

The infant was in the care of his older siblings when he was attacked.

One sister, Abigae, told The Gleaner that she was inside when she heard her brother’s ear-piercing screams.

“We looked through the window and saw the dog rushing at the child and we shouted at the dog and he ran. My little sister took up the baby and went to wash off his mouth because it was bleeding really badly. A piece of his lip was hanging off and there were two teeth marks at the side of his lip,” she recounted.

Abigae said she now harbours guilt over the incident.

The Dogs (Liability for Attacks) Act passed in 2020 imposes a maximum fine of $3 million.

Section 3 (1) of the law states that the occupant of any premises where a dog is kept, or permitted to live or remain, shall be presumed to be its owner.

“Where a dog attacks an individual in any place other than the premises (or part thereof) referred to in Section 3, where the dog is kept or permitted to live or remain, the owner of the dog commits an offence,” Section 6 reads.

Andre and Lessan Thomas maintained that they are taken aback by the allegations made against their pet and have sought the services of a veterinarian to assist in their investigation.

“It’s a nice dog. It’s a family dog. I have doubts (that the dog attacked the child) because my dog is not an aggressive dog,” said Lessan.

Her husband, Andre, agreed.

“Two babies live inna mi house. Them play with him. If the dog was aggressive, him woulda bite them. It look like a just because my dog was the biggest one there at the time, a him get the blame,” he said.

The couple said, however, that they are willing to stand medical and other costs if it is confirmed that their dog attacked the toddler.

Bryson said that he remains optimistic of his son’s recovery while he awaits word from doctors on the possible cost of surgery.