Yesterday we brought you the story of a young girl recovering after being mauled by a pit-bull. Reporter Marion Ali revisited the story and here is that report.
Pit-bull mauling is becoming commonplace in Belize, particularly because of the clandestine pit-bull fights that dog owners have been reported to engage in as a betting sport. Some dog owners train their pit bulls to attack for the kill, and target small animals such as cats and other smaller dogs – even each other.
Since the weekend alone, there have been two reported pit-bull mauling. One left three year old Alicia Guardado and her mother, Maria Guerra recovering from bite wounds inflicted by a dog that belongs to their landlord. The dog, according to eyewitnesses, charged at the child when she began to cry. Her father, Edwardo Guardado, he moved along with his common-law wife, Maria Guerra, and children to 56 Iguana Street Extension two months ago and thought they were safe at the location because the yard has a high fence and gate. But little did they know that their biggest threat was right amidst their surroundings.
Both mother and child suffered bite wounds to mostly their lower body on the legs and thighs. Alicia Guardado, had to be rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital bleeding profusely with bite wounds on her right upper thigh while Maria Guerra was suffered wounds to her left leg. The injuries have confined Guerra to her house and Guardado says that has put a dent in the family’s income. He is not pleased with the way the dog owner, Ricardo Velasquez, has addressed the situation. The men argued momentarily while we visited the family on Monday. After a few minutes, they seemed to reach an agreement. The dog owner, Ricardo Velasquez told us right off that he has purchased the medicine that the child and her mother need and on Monday, he agreed to pay the family for the time that Maria Guerra has to stay away from work.
But while Velasquez has decided to settle the matter amicably, the incident is one that Assistant Commissioner of Police, Miguel Segura says is a criminal offense for which dog owners can be held liable, whether the victim is a person or another animal. Segura says that because these types of attacks are occurring with more frequency, law makers may want to revise the penalty. Segura says that the citizenry can also help to address the growing problem by holding dog owners, and more specifically pit-bull owners legally responsible for allowing their animals to roam unrestricted, especially when that results in an attack. While it is the nature of pit-bull to aggress people and other animals, Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Dr. Alfred Charles, says that dogs instinctive tendencies to attack can be controlled. The vicious attack upon mother and child has been reported to the police for investigation.