WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) is urging parents and caregivers to exercise increased caution following two recent dog attacks that left children under the age of ten seriously injured.
According to the hospital, the incidents occurred within the past month. Both children survived but suffered lasting physical and psychological effects as a result of the attacks.
The warning comes from pediatrician Naijla Duque, who emphasized that young children are particularly vulnerable when interacting with dogs. She noted that even animals considered reliable can react unpredictably based on instinct.
CMC highlighted that children are often unable to defend themselves, may not recognize warning signals from animals, and can unintentionally display behavior that triggers a dog.
In response, the hospital is advising parents to never leave children alone with dogs and to actively teach them how to behave safely around animals.
The alert follows the recent incidents and is intended to prevent similar cases in the future, as health professionals stress the importance of awareness and supervision to reduce risks.
