Bengaluru Mother's Morning Walk Turns Into Nightmare After Unleashed Dog Attack
For Shalini Kumari Dubey, a 31-year-old working professional and mother to a 17-month-old toddler, what should have been a joyful chapter of life has been violently shattered. Her days, once filled with work responsibilities and tender moments caring for her breastfeeding child, are now spent in a hospital bed, recovering from a brutal dog attack that has left her with deep physical and emotional wounds.
The Fateful Morning That Changed Everything
On the morning of January 26, Shalini stepped out for her routine morning walk near her home on 13th Cross in HSR Layout's Teachers' Colony. Within moments, her life changed irrevocably when a neighbor's pet Rottweiler, allegedly released onto the road without a leash or muzzle, lunged at her. The powerful dog pinned her to the ground and viciously attacked her face and neck.
CCTV footage from the incident shows the dog charging at Shalini the moment its owner opened the gate. "There was no chain, no muzzle, no safety measures whatsoever," said the victim's husband, Satya Prakash Dubey, highlighting the complete lack of precautions taken by the dog owner.
Severe Injuries and Life-Threatening Wounds
Shalini survived the attack, but only just. She underwent nearly eight hours of surgery to address her extensive injuries, which required more than 80 stitches across her face, throat, and head. One particularly deep wound, measuring 7 centimeters long, came dangerously close to her airway.
"Another centimeter and it could have been fatal," Dubey revealed, emphasizing how close his wife came to losing her life. Doctors have warned the family that some of the facial scars may be permanent, adding to the psychological burden of the traumatic experience.
Emotional Trauma and Family Disruption
Hospitalized for more than a week, Shalini is gradually healing physically but remains emotionally shaken. She struggles with flashbacks and anxiety, and has begun consulting a clinical psychologist to address the psychological impact of the attack.
What troubles her most, however, is not her own pain but the effect on her young daughter. "She keeps asking for her mother," said Dubey, adding that "at night, she cries inconsolably." Shalini's biggest worry is whether her facial injuries will prevent her toddler from recognizing her.
With Shalini incapacitated, their daughter is being cared for by the infant's grandmothers. The child has already lost close to 1 kilogram of weight, and the entire family has been living in trauma since the incident. Both husband and wife have been unable to work, their daughter has been unable to breastfeed, and fear of dogs has intensified throughout the household.
Pattern of Aggressive Behavior and Legal Action
Neighbors claim the dog had displayed aggressive behavior on previous occasions. Dubey revealed that a delivery executive was once attacked by the same animal. "There were warnings. The owners ought to have acted back then," he stated.
A police complaint was filed after the hospital flagged it as a medico-legal case, and an FIR has been registered against the dog's owner, N Amaresh Reddy, for negligence. Police have identified the dog breed as a Rottweiler and have initiated legal proceedings.
"Investigating officer has served a legal notice to Reddy, who appeared before the police the very next day after the case was filed," a senior police officer told TOI. "After taking statements from him, we sent him back. However, he will have to appear again as the investigation proceeds."
Broader Questions About Pet Ownership Responsibility
The incident has renewed important questions about enforcement of leash and muzzle rules and the accountability of pet owners in urban environments. When TOI visited the area, the dog's owner was not to be seen anywhere and the house was locked.
One neighbor offered a conflicting perspective, stating that "the dog was fine and wasn't aggressive," while acknowledging that "that day, within seconds, it attacked the lady on the road." The neighbor added that "luckily, the owner was right behind and tried to pluck the dog out. Or else, it would have been worse."
Dubey emphasized that this tragedy transcends simple debates about dogs versus humans. "This is not about dogs-versus-humans. This is about irresponsible ownership," he asserted. "My wife's life changed forever. No family should go through this."
The case continues to unfold as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and determine appropriate legal consequences for the dog owner's alleged negligence.
