Nine-year-old needs nine stitches after stray dog bites her

THANE: A stray dog attacked a nine-year-old girl while she was playing with friends near her residence at Vartak Nagar on Sunday afternoon.Muskaan Shaikh was shocked when the stray ran towards her and jumped on her in Sainath Nagar. "I was playing when the dog suddenly ran towards me and jumped on me. A woman came to my rescue, and the dog then ran away," said Shaikh. It could be that he was attacked previously by someone or in self defence as someone got close to him. Usually, these animals do not attack, especially if they are fit," said Dr Kshama Shirodkar, veterinary officer at Thane Municipal Corporation.Last May, four persons, including an infant, were bitten by a stray near Court Naka.