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Incidents in Essen and Mülheim an der RuhrDog attacks on children in North Rhine-Westphalia – two boys injured
A Belgian Shepherd dog as seen here injures a nine-year-old boy in Mülheim
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Two children, two dog attacks, two missions in the Ruhr area.
Small children were injured by dogs in the Ruhr area twice over the weekend. At one point a police dog was even involved. The investigation into the cases is ongoing.
Dog bites boy in the head in Essen – owner drunk in the allotment garden?
The incident ended particularly violently in an allotment garden in Essen. According to dpa information, a so-called antique mastiff runs out of the garden of a plot and attacks a five-year-old boy. The dog bites the child in the head. The boy is taken to the hospital and receives further treatment there.
The 29-year-old owner is said to have been in a hut on the property during the attack. According to police, he later stated that he had been drinking alcohol. So officers took a blood sample from him. The Great Dane came to the animal shelter. Investigations are underway against the man for negligent and dangerous bodily harm.
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What is known about the antique mastiff
Antique mastiffs are among the large dogs. According to dpa, male dogs can reach a shoulder height of up to 70 centimeters and a weight of up to 58 kilograms. In North Rhine-Westphalia they are not automatically considered dangerous dogs. However, because these are often crosses with listed dogs, the classification in individual cases can depend on their external appearance.
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Police dog injures nine-year-old in Mülheim an der Ruhr
There was another case just a few kilometers away on Friday. In Mülheim an der Ruhr, a Belgian Shepherd Dog runs from his service dog handler's property to a neighboring property where several children are playing with a ball. The police dog runs towards a nine-year-old, whereupon the boy apparently gets frightened, runs away and is bitten on the buttocks.
The wound had to be stitched in the hospital. As a precaution, the child initially stayed there. The dog was secured by the wife of the service dog handler. Both are being investigated for negligent bodily harm. For reasons of neutrality, the Bochum police are conducting the investigation.
Sources used: dpa, afp
