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Dogs attack children in UAE, owner gets suspended jail term

Abu Dhabi - The dogs were under the care of an 'illegal' maid at the time of the incident.

A child in Abu Dhabi has been severely wounded after two dogs attacked him.
Two dogs, belonging to an American expat, attacked a 9-year-old child as he played in front of his home in Abu Dhabi severely injuring his face, head and the hands.
The pets allegedly became unruly while out for a walk with the housemaid.
Official court documents stated that the Egyptian boy was playing with his friends in the compound of the residential villas in Shakhbout area a few months, when a housemaid came out of a neighbouring villa while walking three dogs.
According to court documents, she allegedly briefly left two of the dogs unattended to retrieve the third dog that had remained behind - the two dogs suddenly started chasing the children who were playing in the compound of the villas.
"All the children ran away and ran inside neighbouring villas, but the dogs caught hold of one of the kids and attacked him badly," said prosecutors.
"The dogs bit the boy at the back of his head, in the face and on both hands. He was admitted to the hospital."
The maid reportedly came running and tried to prevent the dogs from attacking the child but they were unruly and instead turned on to her too, however she was not injured.
Hospital authorities informed police about the attack on the boy after he was brought to emergency department.
The medical report said that the child suffered seven deep wounds to the head and hands, which would leave behind permanent scars.
The American owner of the dogs was prosecuted after investigations suggested that he was negligent in leaving the dogs in the maid's care and that he didn't protect his pets from the neighbours.
Police investigations also found out that the expat was employing a maid, who had runaway from her sponsor.
Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance has sentenced the man to six months suspended jail sentence and also fined him Dh50,000 for illegally employing a runaway maid.
The court also ordered the maid to be deported.
It was not clear whether the boy's parents would seek compensation.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi