Dogs maul Cowdray Park child (8) to death

An 8-year-old child was on Sunday afternoon mauled to death by two boar bull dogs in Bulawayo's Cowdray Park suburb after the predators escaped from the premises they were locked in.

The dogs escaped through an open gate while the owner of the house was parking his car in the yard.

Owner Bruce Dhliwayo, 47, said his dogs escaped through the gate without him noticing them and attacked two of his neighbour's children who were playing outside their home.

"I only noticed from the rear view mirror that the dogs were running out of the gate while I was parking my car. This has never happened before because when I open the gate for myself each time the dogs have never attacked people," a shocked Dhliwayo said.

He said he rushed to stop the dogs only to find two children under attack.

The younger sister, Naledi Nare lay on the ground bleeding while her sister Martha Nare, 12, escaped.

"I rushed towards the kids as fast as I could but the dogs had already mauled one of the children. They killed the 8-year-old, leaving the sister with deep lacerations and luckily she escaped," Dhliwayo said.

An eyewitness, Victor Nyoni, told the Daily News that passers-by kept their distance and failed to stop the vicious dogs fearing they could turn on them if they got closer.

"The dogs caught the two children unaware and it is unfortunate that one died. The owner knows his dogs are dangerous and should have always kept them on leash or in kennels rather than allowing them to roam the premises freely.  He should be arrested," Nyoni said.

He suggested the dogs should undergo a veterinary check for rabies.

Police confirmed the death of the baby who was bitten on the neck and stomach countless times.

Nare family members declined to comment on the incident.