Dog attacks young girl to death

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A nine-year old girl was killed after she was attacked by a Belgian Malinois on her neck while on her way home from school in a village here late Monday afternoon, police said.

The police identified the victim as Mariane Gonzales, a fourth grader of Pasonanca Elementary School, and resident of Barangay Cabangan.

Case investigator PO2 Ladja Alwazer of Police Station 7 based in Barangay Sta. Maria said the victim and her three companions were on their way home from school passing through the Summer Hill Subdivision at Barangay Pasonanca where the incident happened about 4:50 p.m.

The investigation disclosed said the canine, owned by Geolar Tan who is out of town, was reportedly tied outside the fence near the road, but it managed to snap from its collar belt and attacked the victim.

Gonzales’s other companions managed to run away as the dog attacked her before falling into a pond.

“There was reportedly a commotion during the dog attack as the three others ran away,” Alwazer said.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.

Based on the medical finding the cause of death was due to the severe dog bite on the neck and different parts of her body, the police said. 

The dog and the two handlers identified as Joel Cañete and RJ Serbestre were placed under the police custody while waiting for the victim’s family to file the formal case.

Cañete told newsmen at the police station that they tied the dog in an iron pole outside the fence which they regularly do, while attending to other dogs inside the house.