FIVE people were injured after being mauled by two dogs believed to be rottweilers in Taman Desa Bicara, Kuala Ketil, Baling, Kedah this morning.
According to reports in The New Straits Times, the dogs escaped from their owner's home.
State Health and Local Government Committee Chairman Mansor Zakaria said the victims were attacked early in the morning in a residential area.
"The two dogs, owned by a local resident, escaped from their enclosure before attacking the public, leaving several people injured.
"Onlookers tried to chase the dogs away, but their efforts were in vain until the owner arrived to stop them," he said as reported.
Mansor added that the residents then confronted the dogs' owner and subsequently lodged a police report.
"I instructed the Baling Municipal Council to take swift action," he said, adding the owner must take responsibility for the incident.
Several pictures of the attack were uploaded to a local community Facebook page earlier today.
One Facebook user claimed that four people sustained injuries during the attack.
He uploaded photos of two injured victims in an ambulance, along with images of the two black dogs.
Baling police chief Azmi Mokhtar said the extent of the victims' injuries remains unknown.
They had yet to lodge a police report as they were receiving treatment at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim in Sungai Petani, he said as reported by Bernama.
"We received information at 5.45am about two dogs roaming the area and attacking several people.
"The 69-year-old owner later confined the dogs, and was instructed to surrender them to the Kulim Veterinary Office for examination and immediate quarantine,” he said.
Baling district officer Yazlan Sunardie Che Yahya, when contacted, confirmed receiving a complaint about the incident.
"I was informed that the dogs were kept at business premises, but were housed at the owner's residence.
"They reportedly escaped from their cages before the attacks,” he added.
Yazlan Sunardie said he would talk to the owner to decide the dogs' fate, either placing them in a shelter or putting them down if they are deemed dangerous.
"Any action taken must follow the relevant guidelines and laws,” he said. - April 1, 2025
