Six kindergarten children hurt in dog attack in Carnikava, dogs returned to owner

An attack by two dogs in Carnikava on the evening of September 4 left six children from the “Riekstiņš” kindergarten injured, along with a teacher. Two of the children sustained injuries serious enough to require hospitalization and surgery.

Police carried out procedural actions at the scene, after which the two dogs were returned to their owner. A further decision on the animals' fate will be made by the Food and Veterinary Service, which will conduct its own assessment.

Public reaction

News of the incident sparked a wide response on social media, with sharply divided opinions. Some commenters expressed confusion over the decision to return the dogs to their owner, questioning what guarantee exists that a similar incident won't happen again. Others argued that the dogs should be euthanized following such an incident, while the owner should face the harshest possible punishment — with some suggesting a ban on keeping animals and large fines.

Meanwhile, another part of the public stressed that primary responsibility lies not with the animals themselves but with their owners, citing inadequate supervision, training, and allowing the dogs to roam freely. These commenters noted that current penalties for such cases are too lenient and called for the dogs' fate to be decided based on professional assessment rather than emotion.