10-year-old Luqman in Gothenburg became the dog Mailo’s last victim. He was seriously injured in the arm by the amstaff, who is now cared for and lives in an animal shelter.
– There is very certain evidence that the dog has caused great damage, so there is a risk that it may be euthanized, but the decision has not been made yet, says Violeta Delgado, administrator at the County Administrative Board.
Monday’s attack was not Mailo’s first. In July, he bit another dog so badly that it had to be euthanized. Then the County Administrative Board decided that Mailo must wear a leash and muzzle.
Several attacks on children
In December, Mailo went on the attack again, when he bit a boy in a stairwell in Halmstad. The boy fell backwards and hit his arm, before being seriously bitten.
Just a couple of days later, the amstaff lashed out at a girl at Helsingborg’s central station, who luckily escaped without serious injuries.
– Quite honestly, you are pissed that this has happened. And a dog that is obviously not well and quite obviously an owner that has not managed to get the dog in order either. My thoughts go out to this little boy and his family. It must have been a terrible experience, says Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren.
Is it a failure that a dog has been able to bite children on three occasions without being able to be stopped?
– Yes, nothing else can be said other than that it is a failure that it has turned out like this, Kullgren replies.
Mailo’s owner has been convicted of several crimes, including assault, robbery and aggravated weapons offences.
The County Administrative Board: “No detective agency”
Today it is the county administrative board that has supervisory responsibility over dogs, but until 2018 it was on the police’s table. The county administrative board believes today that this case could have been handled better if they themselves had not been responsible.
– The difference between the County Administrative Board and the police is that the police have different powers and mandates to look for people. The county government doesn’t really have that, we’re not a detective agency here, says Violeta Delgado.
– But sometimes that is the case in certain matters, when you have to get some information. I think that with the police’s system, it could make it easier if this case file had remained with the police, continues the case manager.