Dog put to sleep

Toddler injured by a Rottweiler in Switzerland

In Switzerland, a Rottweiler bit and seriously injured a small child (symbolic image).

(Bild: thinkstockphotos.de (Symbolbild))

A toddler was bitten by a Rottweiler in the Swiss canton of Bern on Friday afternoon. The child was seriously injured and had to be flown to hospital by rescue helicopter. The Swiss Veterinary Office euthanized the dog.

The toddler was attacked on a forecourt in front of a building, the police said on Saturday. Bystanders had separated the dog from the child and caught it. The police did not give exact details of the child's age or the circumstances. They justified this with the protection of privacy.

The incident took place in Sumiswald in the Swiss canton of Bern. At the end of October 2024, a one-year-old Rottweiler escaped from an apartment in Adlikon near Regensdorf in the canton of Zurich. It attacked and bit two children who were playing. A five-year-old suffered serious injuries to his arms and a seven-year-old girl was injured in one arm and one leg.

Rottweiler banned in Zurich
The dog also bit two women who rushed to help, as well as a policewoman. This four-legged friend was also put down.

The purchase of new Rottweilers has been banned in the canton of Zurich since January 1, 2025. This was triggered by such attacks on children. Anyone who already owns such a dog must apply for a license. Rottweilers are then subjected to a character test.