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Owner pays dearly for dog bite
02/08/2007 07:42 - (SA)
Hilda Fourie, Beeld
Pretoria - Snuffels, a Labrador cross, has cost his owner a cool R407 660.68 for biting a girl in the face, causing extensive injuries and psychological damage.
A psychologist's report on Snuffels was submitted to the court.
On March 14 2004 Snuffels, a six-year-old Labrador cross, attacked and bit Madelaine van Niekerk (who turns 20 on Friday) at the home of his owner, PJ de Wet, in Wonderboom South, Pretoria.
She had apparently been playing with the dog just before the incident. When she got up and walked away, Snuffels jumped up and
grabbed her nose. The attack took place near his food bowl.
No self-confidence
Van Niekerk had to undergo reconstructive surgery after Snuffels bit her in the face and on her left arm. She was badly shocked and traumatised after the incident.
Van Niekerk's father, Nicolaas Jacobus Johannes van Niekerk, initially claimed R862 235.68 from De Wet, who lives in Doornport
Madelaine, who lives in Doornpoort, has suffered from stomach ulcers and a spastic colon since the incident, severely affecting her functional abilities.
She has lost her self-confidence and is afraid of mixing with people.
According to Dr Quixi Sonntag, who prepared the report on Snuffels, the dog is audiophobic, resists handling such as being subjected to a leash, jumps up against people during the greeting process and "mourns" when his owners go away on holiday.
Sonntag could not give a definitive explanation for the dog's behaviour, but he said there was a possibility that it could happen again.
Beeld contacted the De Wets but De Wet himself was not at home. When the person who answered the phone was asked if Snuffels was still alive, he said no.
He did not want to say what had become of Snuffels.
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