BATU PAHAT: The harrowing sight of her three-year-old niece lying injured and covered in blood after being attacked by a stray dog last Saturday (Sept 5) continues to haunt a woman in Kampung Tambak, Peserai, here.
Nurfatin Harun, 23, said the incident occurred while her niece, Nur Haira Watikah Mohammad Hamizi, was playing on the porch of the house when she was startled by sudden screams during the attack.
She said she immediately rushed to her niece and found the child in a weak condition, having sustained severe injuries to her body.
"As I cradled her at that moment, I could only hear her breathing while I tried calling her name, before rushing Haira to the hospital by car.
"We have now been informed that my niece has been placed in an induced coma and is currently being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in Johor Baru. We hope there will be positive developments," she said when met here on Monday.
Nurfatin said Haira was staying at her grandfather's house with other relatives during the National Day holiday, as it had become a family tradition for the family to gather there during holidays.
"Our family hopes that action will be taken by the responsible parties to ensure that what happened to my niece, as well as the issue of roaming stray dogs, does not persist.
"I was also informed that Haira has undergone minor surgery for the wounds she sustained," she added.
On Sunday, the media reported the incident in which the child was severely injured after being attacked by the stray dog.
Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani confirmed the incident and said the case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 (child neglect) and Section 289 of the Penal Code (negligence with respect to any animal). - Bernama
