Wentworth pensioner still recovering in hospital a month after pit bull attack, dogs removed from the area
An elderly Wentworth woman is recovering in hospital after a severe pit bull attack. The dogs have been removed from the area.
Image: FILE
More than a month after an elderly Wentworth woman was severely injured in a pit bull attack, she is still recovering in hospital following a skin graft, and the dogs involved have been removed from the area.
Delyse Augustine, in her eighties, suffered multiple bite wounds to her legs and head in the attack, which occurred while she was walking home after collecting medication from local shops. The incident also left two other people injured as they attempted to intervene.
Her daughter, Bronwyn Samuels, provided an update on her mother’s condition. “She’s at Albert Luthuli Hospital. They just did a skin graft on her leg yesterday. The wound behind her leg was quite bad, so they needed to do the graft,” Samuels said. She added that her mother’s recovery timeline remains uncertain.
The attack sparked widespread concern in the community, with residents expressing fear for their own safety. According to Samuels, the dogs’ removal followed sustained pressure from the neighbourhood.
“The community was putting a lot of pressure on us to go to SPCA because they were scared the dogs were going to come out. We had no choice but to ensure this didn’t happen to anyone else,” she said.
Both pit bulls were taken into custody by the Metro Police and the SPCA.
Samuels added that, prior to their removal, there had been no meaningful engagement from the owner. “The owner never apologised, never showed any remorse,” she said.
Samuels also described the emotional toll the attack had on her mother. “She’s been very strong, but she’s heavily medicated. The leg wound hurts, but she tries to put on a brave face. She wants to get out of hospital and start walking, but she’s still recovering,” she said.
Reflecting on the broader issue of pet ownership, Samuels emphasised the responsibility that comes with keeping high-risk breeds like pit bulls.
“If you’ve got a pit bull, you should have a big area and train your dog. If they’re not socialised and don’t go for walks, when they get older they’re going to be wild. You can’t keep them in a small area and expect them not to act out,” she said.
Samuels added that the neighbourhood had witnessed other incidents involving aggressive dogs in the area since the attack.
As Augustine continues her recovery, Samuels said she hopes the case serves as a warning to other dog owners about proper containment and responsible ownership. “This shouldn’t happen to anyone else,” she said.
Police opened a case relate to the failure to prevent an animal from causing injury.