4 booked as dog bites neighbour

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: The Talegaon Dabhade police have booked four members of a family after their pet dog bit a neighbour during a quarrel over a trivial issue in the Indrayaninagar area.

The 30-year-old injured neighbour’s brother lodged a complaint with police, who registered an offence under section 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animal) of Indian Penal Code. The man was admitted to the Talegaon Dabhade civil hospital with an injury on the calf of his left leg.

Police said both the families lived in small houses. Late on Saturday afternoon, the neighbour and his family members had decided to wash the floor of their house. They opened the front door of the house and allowed the water to drain out around 5pm. The water reached the common area, where the family owning the dog had parked a car, police said.

Miffed at the sight of the water, they confronted the neighbour. “Both the families started arguing with each and other and tension escalated within minutes,” a police officer said. “A member of the family with the dog abused the man from the neighbouring family,” he added.

“At this moment, the dog reached the spot. The family, which was in a furious mood, incited the dog to charge at the neighbour. As the dog ran towards him, he started fleeing the spot. The dog bit him in his calf,” the officer said.

“As the man fell, his family picked him up and shifted to the hospital. He is undergoing treatment,” the police officer said, adding that the dog was not trained but followed the owner’s instructions. Police booked the four members of the family on Sunday.