Four-Year-Old Bitten by Customs Dog, Parents Say Airport Displayed ‘Shocking Lack of Empathy’
Four-Year-Old Bitten by Customs Dog, Parents Say Airport Displayed ‘Shocking Lack of Empathy’
A four-year-old boy was allegedly bitten by a sniffer dog at Kolkata airport on August 12, forcing his family to cancel their overseas trip to Malaysia. The child’s father later filed a police complaint over the incident on August 19.
The incident occurred between departure gates 4A and 4B, where the boy was with his parents preparing to board their flight. Despite being on a leash with its handler, the German Shepherd allegedly lunged forward and bit the child, leaving deep scratches on his back. He was hospitalised and is currently undergoing a treatment protocol requiring five doses of immunisation over 28 days.
On August 19, the child’s father filed a police complaint accusing the dog handler of “incompetence in controlling the dog, causing severe injury.” In the FIR, he stated, “My four-year-old son fell victim to a vicious attack by a Customs department dog named Nancy while we were en route to departure Gate 4A & 48 for our flight to Malaysa. The incompetent dog handler failed to control the dog, resulting in an unprovoked and ‘severe-category’ injury to my child.”
He further alleged that despite their cries for help, the handler “deserted his post and absconded with the dog, leaving us to deal with the traumatic aftermath alone.”
The father claimed airport authorities showed “a shocking lack of empathy and urgency” and only responded when Anav’s condition worsened. According to the FIR, “The airport doctor downplayed the severity of the dog bite, when it was evident that my child required immediate medical attention.” He also mentioned that the family’s request for CCTV footage was turned down.
Police said they are investigating the case to determine what went wrong and whether proper safety measures were in place. Officials confirmed that the sniffer dog belonged to a security agency working at the airport.
Why Dogs Are at Airports
The incident has raised questions about the use of large dogs in crowded places like airports. Many passengers often wonder why such dogs are present in terminals. Airport authorities and security experts explain that dogs are an important part of security teams. Their sense of smell is extremely advanced and can detect dangerous or illegal items. Sniffer dogs can identify explosives, drugs, weapons, and even medical issues. During the pandemic, some specially trained dogs were also used to detect Covid-19.
Other Roles of Dogs in Airports
Apart from spotting security threats, dogs are also trained to assist passengers. Some help visually impaired travelers and those with other disabilities navigate terminals. Dogs are also used in certain airports to calm nervous passengers before flights.
