Man Arrested in Tel Aviv After Two Dogs Attack 8-Year-Old Girl

A man in his 50s was arrested on Thursday evening on suspicion of allowing two dogs in his care to attack an eight-year-old girl in Tel Aviv. The incident occurred on Saturday morning on Alenqwa Street in the Kfar Shalem neighborhood, where the girl was visiting her grandmother. According to police, the dogs were roaming without supervision or muzzles and attacked the girl at the entrance to the building, biting her all over her body and dragging her outside the lobby. The attack stopped only after a passerby threw stones at the dogs, causing them to flee.

Following the attack, the girl was hospitalized in serious condition and underwent multiple surgeries. After four days, she was able to stand again. Police investigators from the Tel Aviv South station conducted a thorough investigation, collecting evidence and testimonies to identify the dogs' owner. The suspect denies ownership or responsibility, claiming the dogs are strays and that he was in northern Israel at the time of the attack.

The investigation is ongoing. The suspect's lawyer, Chen Palchi, stated that his client denies any connection to the incident and urged the police to release him unconditionally. The suspect faces charges related to the attack and violations of animal welfare laws.