Boxer tears off flesh from man's arm

A dog attack left a man with torn tendons and muscles in his left arm.

A fist-size piece of his flesh was ripped off. The picture of the wound is too graphic to be reproduced in this paper.

The attack happened on Tuesday as event planner Kader Sultan, 67, was taking his dog for its morning walk around Bayshore Park.

The resident of the condominium estate usually takes his miniature poodle to the park within the condo development three to four times every day.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Mr Kader said at around 7.30am, a boxer jumped at him and took a chunk from his left arm, leaving a bloody mess and exposing the bone.

A maid who was walking the dog pulled it away but by then, Mr Kader had slumped to the ground from the excruciating pain.

A cleaner at the condo, who witnessed the incident, ran to the guardhouse to call for help.

Mr Kader said the dog owner allegedly turned up but "when she saw there was blood on the floor, she immediately ran away".

He also claimed that the boxer, which has been seen in the neighbourhood, had attacked his son in 2011, going for his waist. Fortunately, his son was not badly hurt.

Mr Kader added that the dog owner had been advised to muzzle the dog but it was not done.

He needed surgery to repair his muscles, as well as several skin grafts.

NO APOLOGY

Mr Kader said nobody has approached him after the attack to apologise.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesman said it received a call about the incident at 7.49am on May 5. An injured man was taken to Changi General Hospital.

Mr Kader underwent surgery to repair the tendons and muscles of his left arm on the same day. He will go for further skin grafts in the coming weeks.

He is currently on painkillers and drugs to stop the wound from being infected.

The dog owner can be fined up to $5,000 if it's proven that she was negligent in allowing the attack. The dog can also be put to sleep by order of a Magistrate's Court.

The boxer's owner may also have to compensate the victim for injuries suffered.

How to deal with an aggressive dog

WHEN IT GROWLS

Back away as calmly and quickly as possible. A dog's growl is its lowest intensity of warning. Ignore it and the dog may launch into a snarl, lunge, snap or bite.

WHEN IT SNARLS AND MOVES TOWARDS YOU

Stay calm, avoid eye contact - that is seen as a threat - and back off as far as you can. You can also get behind something for protection and call for help.

You can also carry an umbrella that you can open suddenly. That distraction will be enough for you to put some distance between you and the dog.

IN A DIRE SITUATION...

Protect yourself the best way you can. Cover your head, face and neck.

juditht@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 10, 2015.
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