New Delhi: A seven-year-old girl was brutally attacked by a neighbour’s American Bully dog while she was playing with her friends at her housing society in Delhi’s Rohini’s Sector-25 area, police said, as reported by news agency PTI. According to the girl’s father, she sustained serious injuries on her hand, back, behind her ear, leg, and under her eyes.

The incident took place on January 9, following which the housing society members staged protest against dog menace.

“On January 9, my seven-year-old daughter was playing with her friends around 5 pm. An American Bully pet dog of my neighbour suddenly attacked her. I thank god that she fought back and started screaming, due to which we reached the spot on time and were able to save her life,” the girl’s father Shrikant Bhagat told PTI.

He further said the girl could not sleep for three days due to trauma from the incident. Her father said that they decided to file a complaint against the dog owner has he was adamant even after the incident.

Police registered a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animal), and 337 (whoever causes hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others), PTI reported.

“We have launched an investigation into the matter. Accused will be called to join the investigation,” a senior police officer told the news agency.

Meanwhile, the residents of the housing society took out a torch march against dog menace.

They also raised slogans such as “dog feeding band karo” (stop feeding stray dogs), “dog lovers saavdhaan, khatron me hai bachchon ki jaan” (dog lovers be aware, the lives of children are in danger), PTI reported.

“We are not against dog feeding, or having pets. Pet lovers must understand that such pets can be dangerous for kids,” a protester told the news agency.