Thane: Nine-year-old needs nine stitches after stray dog bites her

THANE: A stray dog attacked a nine-year-old girl while she was playing with friends near her residence at Vartak Nagar on Sunday afternoon.

Muskaan Shaikh was shocked when the stray ran towards her and jumped on her in Sainath Nagar.

"I was playing when the dog suddenly ran towards me and jumped on me. I fell due to the impact, when he bit me on the head. A woman came to my rescue, and the dog then ran away," said Shaikh. Her parents said the class II student did not talk to anyone for two days. "A woman immediately brought her to us and, as a precaution, we applied turmeric on the wound. We then took her to Civil hospital, where they treated her and gave her an injection, after which we were referred to JJ hospital as she had a swelling near her eye. Luckily, her vision was stable but she got six stitches on her head and three near her eye," said Anwar, her father.

The family has informed the civic authorities about the incident, after which the veterinary department is trying to get hold of the stray.

The authorities said the dog will be kept under observation for 10 days.

"We do not suspect he is rabid, as he is healthy and does not show symptoms. But if infected, the symptoms may arise later. We are not sure what exactly happened and why he attacked. It could be that he was attacked previously by someone or in self defence as someone got close to him. Usually, these animals do not attack, especially if they are fit," said Dr Kshama Shirodkar, veterinary officer at Thane Municipal Corporation.

Last May, four persons, including an infant, were bitten by a stray near Court Naka. A passer-by attacked her and injured her severely, after which she died. Shrutika Sukhi