Dog biting boy at Darwin Bowls and Social Club

A dog attack on a seven-year-old boy has left a family looking for new work, while the boy remained distraught in the days after the bite.

A dog attack on a seven-year-old boy at Darwin Bowls and Social Club has left a family looking for new work, while the boy remained distraught in the days after the bite.

Shaikh’s Catering chef Niton Shaikh worked in the kitchen at the club until Sunday, after the dog bit his seven year old son Farshad on Saturday night, leaving him with a puncture and a large bruise on his right thigh.

The dog was not held on a leash or under control of its owner, as per the club’s rules.

“The dog was moving around for a couple of hours unleashed,” he said.

“He’s doing fine from yesterday. Before that he was really shaking, always wanted a cuddle but he’s getting there.”

After not hearing from the club the next day, Mr Shaikh said he put a post on Facebook asking friends for advice of what he should do.

He said he then received a phone call from the club, asking him to collect his equipment from the kitchen, three weeks prior to when the family and club had agreed to end his employment on October 20.

The club said it had told Mr Shaikh in September it was looking for a new catererr.

While the family is now anxious about their work and financial position, Mr Shaikh said he didn’t want his old job back and just wanted to make sure this sort of incident didn’t happen again.

“That’s our message, we just want every premises, every business to be doing their job properly,” he said.

“I believe that’s how it could be solved and that’s how other children and the public will be safe.

“After this kind of reaction we will not go back there.”

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In a statement the Darwin Bowls and Social Club said the dog owner had been penalised.

“The dogs owner, a DBCSC social member, failed to abide by the posted club dog rules and two warnings from bar staff,” they said.

“The member has been suspended pending review of the incident.”

The statement said that after Farshad was taken to hospital the club’s executive paid the out of pocket expenses as a sign of goodwill, which so far totalled $550.

“ (Farshad) the 7-year-old boy, approached the dog sitting alongside his owner, Farshad was not under direct supervision of his parents as they were working at Shaikh’s Catering,” they said.

“The Darwin Bowls and Social Club is committed to assisting the council in their investigations and wishes the victim a speedy recovery.”

The statement also said Shaikh’s Catering was advised on September 18, a week and a half earlier, the club would be looking for an alternate catering provider.

Darwin council said depending on the outcome of the investigation. under council by-laws it could prosecute the owner of the dog, issue infringements, declare the dog, or place conditions of registration or seize the dog.

Police and council are investigating.