The family of a four-year-old boy who suffered serious facial injuries and nerve damage after being attacked by a dog while playing at a friend’s house are wondering why the dog is not being put down.

WARNING: This article contains images that may be disturbing to some people.

Swayde Rangi was playing with a friend in Perth in August when their Arabian bull terrier, Orlando, attacked him, injuring his face and causing permanent nerve damage.

His mother, Jasmine Santich, told ABC Radio Perth her son suffered serious and permanent injuries and had to be taken by ambulance to hospital for surgery.

“He was taken to Perth Children’s Hospital where he had quite extensive reconstructive surgery on his face,” Ms Santich said.

“He had a gash from his forehead to his skull, and the tear duct into his eye had a full-thickness tear, extending basically to his cheek.

Ms Santich said her son also suffers from complex emotional trauma, permanent nerve damage and scarring that requires daily therapy.

He will also need another eye surgery.

“He has a stent in his eye and his eye looks like it’s going to cry all the time because there’s no filtration system there, so his eye is filled with fluid all the time.

She added that the experience also had a negative impact on her son’s psyche and made him very afraid of all dogs.

“Our neighbor has a dog. When the dog goes out the front, Swayde can’t get in fast enough and the color just drains from his face,” she said.

Ms Santich said if she had known the dog, which had behavioural problems, was not kept on a leash she would not have left her son to play with a friend.

Dangerous Dog Declaration

Following an investigation, Cockburn City Council took control of Orlando and issued a “dangerous dog” restraining order, meaning the dog, which has previously attacked at least one other person, and its owners will be subject to strict rules.

The council notified Swayde’s parents that “due to the serious nature of Swayde’s injuries, Orlando will be considered a dangerous dog under the relevant Dogs Act.”

“This declaration comes with significant restrictions on fencing, muzzles and signage on (the owner’s) property,” the ranger said.

The council will not return Orlando to its owner until these conditions are met.

The council will also prosecute the owner for the offence of dog attack or “chasing occasioning bodily harm”, which carries a maximum fine of $10,000.

However, Ms Santich said this was not enough and she believed Orlando should be put down.

“Their report explained that this was actually a third attack,” she said.

“What happens if next time it’s a smaller child and they get hit or have permanent eye damage?

Loading