Two girls have been hospitalised following a critical canine attack in Waterford City.
The incident occurred round lunchtime on Friday in an space in St John’s Park which is within the centre of the town.
The canine is known to be an XL bully, a variation of the pitbull, and attacked one girl in her 30s and one other who’s in her late teenagers.
Emergency companies included gardaí, an ambulance from University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and a Waterford City and County Council canine warden. The canine was subsequently seized by the WCC warden.
The two girls, believed to have been severely injured are nonetheless receiving therapy in hospital.
In an announcement, gardaí mentioned: “Gardaí attended the scene of an incident with a dog. Emergency services were at scene and removed two women (30s and late teens) from the scene to University Hospital Waterford for treatment.
“The dog was seized by the WCC Dog Warden.” Garda investigations are ongoing.
Sinn Féin councillor and animal rights activist who relies in Waterford City Cllr John Hearne mentioned he wished the 2 women who have been attacked “a speedy and complete recovery”.
However, he slammed the delay on plans to overtake animal welfare since a vicious attack on a young boy in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford left him with critical facial accidents final yr when he was attacked by the identical kind of canine.
Alejandro Mizsan, then aged 9, was attacked by an XL Bully canine whereas taking part in outdoors his home in Enniscorthy final November. He suffered horrific accidents within the attack and spent weeks in hospital in Dublin.
A lady has since been charged in relation to manage of the canine and has pleaded responsible.
The girl admitted duty for the attack in courtroom earlier this month by her XL bully which resulted in critical harm to the young boy.
Judge Cormac Quinn additionally directed the preparation of sufferer affect studies at Wexford Circuit Court. The matter was then put again to the courtroom sitting on November 28.
Cllr Hearne mentioned “The Government promised a complete overhaul of legislation around dog controls and animal welfare but nothing has been published yet. This issue seems to be way down the line for them (Government). I’m forever campaigning for Waterford City and County Council to do more around animal welfare and non of the authorities seem interested.”
The canine attack was additionally condemned by Independent councillor Donal Barry who lives within the St John’s Park space.
Cllr Barry defined that he was “concerned” concerning the attack on the 2 girls and mentioned that if a toddler had been the sufferer they “would not have stood a chance”.
“These dogs need to be brought under effective control and muzzled. This breed of dog being allowed in our communities is hugely concerning as they can cause serious injuries. Only earlier this month a man was mauled to death in Sunderland by the same type of dog. I would like to pass on my best wishes to the two women who were attacked here in Waterford.”
Fifty-four-year-old Ian Langley was attacked close to his home in Sunderland within the UK on October 3 and later died in hospital from extreme neck accidents.
In the wake of the attack, the Government mentioned it might add extra breeds to the harmful dogs listing if obligatory. Dog management in Ireland falls below the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing and Local Government.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue mentioned within the aftermath of the Enniscorthy attack that there’s a listing of dogs that require muzzles and leads when they’re out in public and this doesn’t all the time occur.
He mentioned: “What happened in Wexford was horrifying. We have to take every step we can to ensure that policy is being implemented and enforced and also if there is anything additional we can do, we assess what that is.”
Only on Friday Minister McConalogue was suggested by the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare that photographs of dogs like pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs in promoting and advertising has contributed to elevated recognition of the breeds in Ireland.
The Council believes that advertisers, media organisations, social media influencers, producers and retailers ought to chorus in future from utilizing imagery of the dogs.
The Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare was arrange in 2021 to advise the Minister for Agriculture on animal welfare points and consists of representatives from the DSPCA, ISPCA, Irish Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, The Irish Blue Cross, Veterinary Ireland and the division.
[
