Ocean View residents watched in horror as two pit bulls attacked a four-year-old girl, nearly mauling the child to death.
Shanique Cole survived the vicious attack, thanks to two neighbours who beat the dogs off her.
The little girl was sent to False Bay Hospital, where she received stitches to more than 15 wounds to her head, shoulder and back.
The owner of the animals admits he had been drinking and when he arrived home, opened his gate and the two male honde bolted.
On Saturday afternoon, as mense were sitting outside on their stoeps and children played in Deftina Road, Player and Puppy, charged into the street.
Neighbour Miranda Arries says she ran indoors when she saw the dogs coming.
She explains: “When I looked through the window, I saw the one dog had Shanique in its jaws. All I could do was shout for help.”
The little girl screamed as she was being dragged by the honde.
She says the owner stood by watching the horrible attack take place.
Two quick-thinking neighbours grabbed a steel pole to beat the dogs.
“Yoh, luckily, another neighbour who is a mechanic, came running with a steel pole when he saw what was happening,” explains Miranda.
“He gave the dogs three hard hits with the pole, but it didn’t work. Only on the fourth hit did the dogs let go of the little girl’s bloody body.”
The toddler’s grandmother, Dorothy Martins, says:”If it wasn’t for the help of the community, the little girl would not have made it.
“I was sad when I saw what my granddaughter looked like, but I thank God she is alive.”
Donavin Arendse, the owner of Player and Puppy, says the children in the street always tease the dogs.
“I came from a friend, where I was drinking. When I opened the gate, they just slipped out and went for the children,” he says.
He claims he tried to stop the dogs, but they only obey his son Nathaniel, who was at work at the time.
“These dogs never attack for no reason. They kept teasing the dog, that’s why they ran out.”
Donavin’s dogs have been taken away by the SPCA after the incident.