From 2004 to date, the doctors of the National Children’s Hospital (HNN) have treated and hospitalized 341 children due to injuries caused by a dog attack. In those 15 years, despite the seriousness of some of the injuries, no child had died until Monday.
The 11-month-old baby who died after being attacked by an American stafford dog in Tibás, reopened that sad list. The director of the National Children’s Hospital, Olga Arguedas, also indicated that an average of 23 children are treated each year for these injuries.
Dr. Arguedas said that in Costa Rica it is vital to learn to live with these animals, as it is estimated that there is one dog for every four people. The large ones are the most dangerous when it comes to an attack on a child or an adult.
The first recommendation to avoid an accident is to keep track of the children if there are canines nearby. The authorities reiterate that the violent behavior of an animal must always be reported to the health authorities.