A year later, the deep wounds on now one-year-old Liam’s cheeks have healed into white scars. But the horror of mother Louise Dahlberg from Kristinehamn still lingers.
She talks about May Day last year when she put her six-week-old baby Liam in the pram and visited an elderly acquaintance who had locked his rottweiler in the house – just in case.
– He got the door open somehow because it was apparently not locked and jumped straight into the cart and started chopping, she says.
“There was so much blood”
Both tried to tear the around 50-60 kilo heavy dog away from the cart. Louise wrestled the dog to the ground several times and was injured herself – but the dog wanted to return to the cart, she says.
– I don’t know with what powers I managed to get the dog out of the pram, get my son up and run into the house. And there was so much blood. I just felt that now I am losing my child, says Louise Dahlberg.
When the paramedics arrived at the scene, they immediately made the assessment that Liam needed to be taken immediately to Örebro hospital by ambulance helicopter for surgery.
– When we get to Örebro, we are met by the trauma team. There were about 30 people, 20 of whom took care of Liam and ten of me because I had gone into some kind of shock.
– There was like only one thought in my head: he won’t make it, Louise continues.
Couldn’t hear Liam cry
Mother and son had to stay in hospital for two days. Despite the attack, Liam escaped with broken bones and severe muscle damage. But to this day, the scars are still visible on his face, which he will probably have for the rest of his life, says mother Louise.
– He doesn’t seem to have anyone else who will accompany him in life. No mental ones either. He is curious about life, lively and happy, she says.
But for her, the past year has been tough, she says. She has been tormented by flashbacks, nightmares and had to take detours in town when she saw a dog.
– For two months after it happened, I could hardly hear when Liam cried. It took me back, says Louise Dahlberg.
Reported to the police
Today, Louise and her partner have no contact with the dog owner. They also reported the incident to the police and made a report to the County Administrative Board – but both investigations were dropped. The dog is still with its owners, but Louise and her partner want it euthanized or cared for.
– The owners who have it now cannot get it in order, control it or help it in any way. I’m afraid that it will happen to someone else and then maybe it won’t be as good as what luckily turned out now, she says.
Now they want to see a change in the law for people who own pets.
– There must be more demands on dog owners. Some owners shouldn’t be allowed to have dogs.