A pit bull that broke free from its leash attacked a teenager who was practising soccer in a public park.
Molemo Molibetsane, 13, was preparing for Hellenic Football Club trials a week ago when he was bitten by the dog in Mandela Peace Park in The Hague, Delft.
Due to his injuries, the Lemosa Football Academy player missed the trials which were held at the weekend.
His father Joseph Molibetsane, 47, says when the boy got home, he was bleeding.
“He had wounds in the chest and thigh, he said that he was chased by the pit bull,” says Joseph.
“The owner was walking three ‘normal’ dogs and a pitbull which was on a leash.
“The dog then broke free and went to the children who were playing soccer.”
The angry father tells the Daily Voice that his son was the only one injured.
“He tried to run but he couldn’t outrun the dog and it jumped on him and sank its teeth into his right thigh,” Joseph explains.
“The owner pulled the vicious dog from him and then he lost control again.
“It went back to my son and bit his chest. Eventually he was able to run home.”
The father says he rushed Molemo, who was in shock, to the hospital where his injuries were treated.
“On Friday he went back for the rabies shot and yesterday we decided that he could go back to school.
“He is still shaken about the incident.
“He was never a person who was scared but everyone fears pit bulls, especially those who aren’t properly trained.”
Joseph says he doesn’t know the dog owner and decided to open a case against the man with the Delft police.
“I want him to get arrested for what his dog did to my son and I want his dog taken away from him,” he says.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi says a case of assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm has been registered with the Delft police for further investigation.
“According to reports, the victim was playing soccer on an open field when the dog broke loose, after which the pit bull attacked the victim, who sustained injuries to his body.
“Delft police registered a case of negligently allowing/failure to prevent an animal to cause injury to another person.”