Dog bite victim in good spirits

DEBORAH DARLINGTON shows her wounds to Jamal Batson owner of the pit bulls that attacked her. (Maria Bradshaw)

By Maria Bradshaw | Sat, June 02, 2012 - 12:02 AM

A REMORSEFUL Jamal Batson has vowed to do everything possible to assist the woman who was mauled by his pack of pit bulls last month.

He made the promise on Wednesday evening when he visited Deborah Darlington at her Kingsland, Christ Church home.

The 50-year-old woman received several injuries to her body on April 30 when she was attacked by four pit bulls while walking through Jasper Avenue, a road near to her home.

The owner was at home sleeping when his dogs attacked not only Darlington but her daughter’s boyfriend Kemar Barrow and her two year-old grandson Kamali just before dawn.

He told the SATURDAY SUN that he was still hurting over the incident, especially since he knew Darlington.

“I have known ‘mum’ for a very long time, and I have been coming here to look for her since the incident, and I want to help her, but I don’t want to say much because the police are involved.”

Batson explained that he had the pit bulls for about four years and he got them for security after his house was broken and entered several times.

Asked if he had euthanized the dogs, Batson said it was not as easy as that.

“I just can’t put the dogs to sleep like that; it would be considered cruelty to animals. There is a process which is involved,” he stated, while stressing that the dogs were now properly secured.

Darlington, who has been receiving treatment almost daily at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, admitted that the situation was equally difficult for her since she knew Batson.

“I know Jamal for years, so this is really hard for me,” she said.

But while updating him on her treatment, Darlington let him know that she wanted one of the dogs to be put down.

“There is a big black one that bite off my ear; I would like that one put down. Whenever I close my eyes, I see him coming at me with his mouth open and his brown teeth. All I could do was put my hands to my face and lie still. The other dogs were biting at my legs, but it was God that intervened at that time,” she recalled.

Surprisingly, she has managed to remain positive despite the horrific ordeal.

Smiling broadly, she declared: “I feel really good. I pray a lot and I have kept focused. People are surprised that I am out and about, and that I am happy and laughing, but I am not really thinking about it (the attack). My doctor looked at me the other day and said he was amazed at how good the wounds were healing.”

Apart from the “40 plus injections” which she has received so far, Darlington said she has also been taking regular sea baths which she believes have also helped heal the wounds.

“There was a bite on my leg that left a big hole which you could put your finger through, but it is getting smaller now. I am still visiting the ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist about my ear. They have not made a decision yet if to refer me to a plastic surgeon; and they are monitoring the wounds under my breast to make sure that they do not collect fluid,” she explained.

But despite her improvement, Darlington still has not been able to walk through Jasper Avenue, where the attack occurred, even though it was a shortcut for her.

“I now take the long road even to catch the bus. I am not ready to walk through there as yet,” she said.

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Posted by D. Stoute 11 months, 3 weeks ago: I find it amazing that these dogs have not been euthanized. It seems that the decision is up to the owner and not the authorities. Unbelievable how this has been handled. "I just can't put the dogs to sleep like that; t would be considered cruely to animals." What about cruelty to people who get bitten, like this woman?

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Posted by Kenneth King 11 months, 3 weeks ago: It's really a sad story and what good came out of it she is not an angry woman. The wounds are very bad as one can imagine but she seems to be doing fine despite the ordeal. As for having such dogs in our society we need to make sure that all possible security are properly used, had that be a child he/she would have died from this attack.
I know we in Barbados love our dogs freely loose on our properties, this is all well and good but under secure protection from harming pedestrians when walking the streets. And to those who allow these dogs to fight, I hope the law give the full punishment for such actions.
I hope Miss/Mrs. Darlington recovers fully and her faith continues even more as she sure is a lucky woman today....many blessings.

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Posted by Pan Wallie 11 months, 3 weeks ago: Well he has come forward as a man. I am still however baffled about his account. You set your dogs loose while you sleep to protect your home, but why were these three dogs not strategically placed, secured with long chains around the yard? Why not train some of them or some other type as a house dog(s) for indoor security? Did you not hear of the the two previous victims, that this was allowed to happen a third time? Why not arise from your comfortable bed and secure these dogs in the VERY early morning hours knowing full well that the area comes alive with commuters and joggers.
Well Deborah, I hope you continue to heal well.