Elderly man suffers severe injuries in pit bull attack

2026-03-13 - 03:37

RADHICA DE SILVA Senior Multimedia Reporter radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt Residents of Hillpiece, Philippine, San Fernando, say they are living in fear after two pit bulls viciously attacked an elderly man last Friday evening, leaving him with serious injuries and the loss of use of one hand. The victim, 78-year-old Ramraj Dookhantie, told Guardian Media that the dogs knocked him to the ground and repeatedly bit him as he desperately tried to protect his throat. The attack occurred around 5:45 pm while Dookhantie was walking to the junction to get a taxi. “I had my car in the garage, so I was going to pick it up,” he recalled. “Before I reached the junction, the neighbour’s gate was open, and the two dogs rushed out and attacked me.” Dookhantie said he used his hands to shield his neck, resulting in deep injuries to both arms. “The whole right hand was bite up because I had to keep the dog away from my throat,” he said. Two men nearby rushed to help. One tried to beat the dogs away with a stone, while another sprayed them with a fire extinguisher, eventually forcing the animals to release him. Dookhantie was taken by ambulance to San Fernando General Hospital, where doctors inserted more than 50 stitches in his hands and arms. “I can’t use my hands. I can’t even make breakfast or boil a cup of water,” he said. Dookhantie alleged that the dogs’ owners—believed to be a police officer and a firefighter—have not contacted him or offered assistance. “Up to today they never come to see if I dead or alive,” he said. Residents claimed the dogs have attacked others before and are often allowed to roam freely, with the front gate left open. Alexis Lakatoo, a neighbour, said he was also attacked last year and had to fend off the dogs with a stick before escaping to his car. “Children have to walk out to get taxis for school, and people have to go to work. Everybody is frightened of those dogs,” he said. Dookhantie said a police report was filed, but the owners have allegedly been avoiding authorities. “The police told me they were looking for them and can’t find them,” he said. He is now calling on Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro and other authorities to act before someone else is seriously injured. “These dogs are very dangerous for the whole community. Something must be done before they kill somebody,” he said. When Guardian Media visited the home where the dogs are kept, no one was present, and there was no sign of the animals. Under Trinidad and Tobago’s Dangerous Dogs Act, owners of Class A dogs such as pit bulls face strict penalties if the animals are not properly controlled. Failure to license/insure or abandonment of a Class A dog: Fine up to $50,000, imprisonment up to 1 year Dog causes injury (out of control) or inciting a dog to attack: Fine up to $100,000, imprisonment up to 5 years Dog causes death (out of control): Fine up to $200,000, imprisonment up to 10 years Illegal importation of a dangerous dog: Fine up to $100,000, imprisonment up to 2 years