A Cape Town mother is anxiously waiting for news about her four-year-old son, who is in critical condition after a pit bull attack.

The dog's bite narrowly missed the child's heart by just a few millimetres and the family is awaiting information on whether he will need surgery.

Little C’Jay Nell was at the dog owner’s home when he was mauled a week ago on March 12 in Chris Hani Park, Macassar.

His mom Shireen said: “I wasn’t with him when this happened. He was at the house where the man had a pit bull.

“The community members saved him and the dog was killed. I was only informed when everything was over.

“My son is in critical condition at Red Cross War Memorial Hospital. He might have surgery, we are waiting for the doctors to decide while he is kept in the intensive care unit. The dog bit him close to his heart.”

The Macassar Community police forum chairperson Christiaan Stewart said residents had to make the tough decision between saving the child or killing the bloodthirsty dog.

“I heard about the incident, the child was walking when he entered a yard. The dog bit him. It was a terrible incident, the community fought the dog. The dog has died, and the community chose to save the child.

“The SPCA opened a case against the community and said the community members should have called them, and their offices are about five to six kilometres away. The SPCA needs to be more realistic. This was not an ordinary dog, it’s a pit bull. If the community didn’t stop the dog, the boy probably would not have survived.”

Stewart suggested that the SPCA raises awareness in the community.

“The SPCA should do a little more and engage with communities especially when there are dangerous dogs and to teach communities about pit bulls and all the other dangerous dogs to prevent serious injuries like that of the four-year-old who was brutally attacked by a pit bull and the community wanted to save the child and they didn’t intend to kill the dog because both lives matter. Unfortunately, the dog was killed and the child is recovering.”

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed the dog died due to its injuries.

A case of animal cruelty has been opened and the people responsible for killing the dog face criminal charges.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham said they were not involved in this case.

"It is our understanding that a case of animal cruelty has been opened and that those responsible for the death of the dog now face criminal proceedings. The cruel death of any animal is not justifiable and has no place in modern society. It is unnecessary in a city where we have laws that protect both people and animals."

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za