When Man's Best Friend Attacks

DOGS play an important role as guards and companions in many homes, but sometimes things can go horribly wrong.

- Vanessa Papas

A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY lay on his stomach, screaming for help, as two Rottweilers savagely tore chunks away from his body. In a heartbreaking and disturbing incident, a family has been left reeling after their son Uriel Ockhuis was attacked by two dogs that had bolted from a property in Hillview, Seawinds, in Cape Town. Bystanders eventually managed to pull the two dogs offhim and rushed him to hospital, but sadly Uriel’s injures were too extensive and he was declared dead on arrival. According to reports, the child’s family said he was bitten 72 times. The SPCA since confirmed that both dogs have been euthanised. The owner of the dogs, Jonathan January, spoke out in a candid interview of how he had tried all preventive measures to enclose his dogs, utilising big gates and locks around the perimeter of his property, yet they still managed to escape. He added that his dogs had never before shown aggression, least of all to a child.