Dog attacks student in school campus in Bahrain

Manama : A student was attacked by a dog inside the campus of a public school in Muharraq Governorate last week, stirring public debate on stray dogs menace once again.

The incident reportedly took place in Hidd and the student was apparently bitten in the face, however, it wasn’t certain if a stray dog was involved in it or not.

Education Minister Dr. Majid al Nuaimi visited the student at his home on Thursday and was reassured about his condition. The minister also met the student’s parents and wished good health and a speedy recovery for the boy.

Public Relations and Information Directorate in the Ministry confirmed in a statement that the boy sustained injuries as the dog escaped from the car of his female owner, barged into the school and attacked him, before the school guard was able to control the situation.

“Based on the responsibility of the ministry and its concern for the safety and welfare of the students, it submitted a formal complaint to Hidd Police Station regarding the incident to take legal action against the offender and to guarantee the student’s legal rights,” the directorate mentioned in its statement.

Several MPs commented on the incident as an aftermath of the never-ending stray dogs issue, which is reported in all four governorates of the Kingdom.

MP and Human Rights Committee in the House of Representatives member Jamal Dawood said, despite the ministry’s confirmation that the incident involved a domestic pet, “The increase of stray dogs’ attacks against minors and adults in different parts of the Kingdom is alarming. Animal welfare, that some are taking as a pretext, has become a danger to the society.”

“These attacks have become more dangerous. This is a serious matter and could not be ignored,” Dawood said, while accusing animal welfare activists of being responsible for the issue and pledging to organise a protest before Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry to demand an immediate solution for the case.