After months of no incidents, a pit bull has struck again; this time a six-year-old girl of Hadfield Street was attacked by a hybrid of the feared breed last evening.

The child, identified only as Crystal, was playing in the Lot 36 Hadfield Street yard shortly before 7 pm and ventured into her neighbour’s yard where the cross-bred pit bull was tied.
Crystal sustained injuries to her rear end, legs and neck during the attack. She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, treated and sent away.

According to reports, the child was playing within reach of the dog when it launched its attack. Stabroek News understands that after the dog grabbed the child it attempted to drag her under its pen.
One resident, who requested to remain anonymous, said he heard “panicked screaming” coming from the yard and went to investigate.

“The child’s underwear was on the ground when I got on the scene and the child was in pain. Everybody was panicking and all they had left to do was rush de child to de hospital,” the man explained.
When Stabroek News visited the Hadfield Street location just before 8 pm Crystal’s mother said that she and the dog’s owner had arrived at an agreement. The owner, according to the child’s mother, would compensate her for Crystal’s injuries.

“She went with me to the hospital,” the shocked mother said. “I understand that it wasn’t a willful thing and we will settle the entire thing,” she stated.

The dog’s owner, who did not identify herself, explained that she was in the shower at the time of the attack. According to her, the dog was tied and she was shocked that it had done such a thing.
“The children from next door know the dog and he would play with them. I don’t know what happened, I can’t say why the dog did that,” the confused owner said. “I will pay for whatever damage the dog has done.”
Hadfield Street residents said something has to be done about “these dogs”. One man pointed out that owners should take care in securing their pets and that parents should warn their children about “playing” with strange dogs.

There have been several pit bull attacks this year; one of which was fatal. Charles Roopchand, a security guard of 2 ‘C’ Area H, Lusignan East Coast Demerara was killed by a pack of dogs on the Ogle Airstrip road while on his way to work.