A 10-year-old boy has been killed and a German tourist badly injured after an attack by stray dogs in Sicily.
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The boy, Giuseppe Brafa from the town of Modica, was attacked and killed two days ago while playing in a field. A nine-year-old boy was also injured.
The 24-year-old tourist later came under attack from eight dogs while out walking on a beach near Marina di Modica, some 12 miles away from the city of Ragusa.
Doctors say her face was badly damaged and she suffered severe injuries elsewhere on her body - her condition has been described as "desperate".
"Her face was particularly disfigured," said Christian Ilardi, a rescue official who was on the helicopter that rushed the woman to Catania.
"Her life is in serious danger due to the wounds, which are very deep."
Officials said the pack actually belonged to a resident who kept dozens of dogs of different breeds in filthy conditions and with little food.
Local authorities had already ordered the dogs to be kept in a fenced area because there were no proper kennelling facilities - the owner of the make-shift pound is now under arrest on a manslaughter charge.
The case has sparked outrage in Italy, particularly after reports that the authorities had entrusted the dogs - originally strays - to the man, believing he could take care of them.
Around 40 of the stray dogs have been captured and two were reportedly shot dead when they attacked a police patrol.
More attacks by the remaining eight strays have since been reported.
Stray dogs are common in southern Italy.
