Dogs attack sisters on police station compound

Two women were attacked by dogs on the compound of the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston on Monday.

Binello Whyte said that she and her sister Deniesha Maxwell went to use the ATM machine when the incident happened.

"After using the machine, we reach between the machine and where the cars park and the six a dem just run out. Me affi get stitches," she said. "Six dog attack we and me have the picture dem in my phone." Maxwell said she tried unsuccessfully to beat away the dogs with her phone. Her sister was also bitten on the hand. They said they were told that their incident was not new. "Talking about it, a two other person me find so far weh them come fi use the machine and the dog attack them. One show me her foot right weh she get the dog bite and it nuh get better yet. About them time here last year weh a dog bite out her heel back and nothing, nuh help she nuh get from them," Whyte said.

Dogs did not belong to them

She said that some policemen, upon realising the women had been bitten, told them the dogs did not belong to them. "Them affi do something about them. This is a station. You can't have dog leggo. How people fi come pon the compound, a police station," Whyte asked. THE STAR checked with the station, where it was confirmed that a report of the incident had been made. However, a policeman explained that the dogs are strays and roam on to the compound as there is no gate to keep them out. "It's not that we harbour them, it's just that when box food throw out, they eat it," the cop said.

In July, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck proposed new legislation that would repeal the Dogs (Liability for Injuries By) Act of 1877. Under the new bill, dog owners would be held liable for injuries sustained by members of the public. According to the bill, a dog owner is defined as someone who occupies a premises where the dog is kept, or who caused the dog to be in a public space where the injury occurred.