By KATHERINE HOBY
Carolina Anderson will see out of her injured right eye.
An eye specialist yesterday examined the brave little 7-year-old dog attack victim.
"Her eyelid was opened up with the help of anaesthetic so we could check on her vision," her father John Anderson said.
"And she seems to have good vision. She could see his torch shining. It was great news and makes today that little bit lighter."
Mr Anderson said the family were in a "wait and see holding pattern" to find out how much sight Carolina would have in the eye.
Delicate nerves and eye tissues were slowly healing, he said.
"Her wee body is doing its best."
Carolina was attacked by a dog at Coxs Bay Reserve on January 31. She spent nine days in hospital and underwent 12 hours of surgery to her face after the vicious attack.
Mr Anderson said his daughter was not sleeping well, like anybody who was unwell.
Carolina was resting a lot as she was very tired, and playing when she felt like it.
"Things are slowly getting back to us having a more normal day," Mr Anderson said.
Swelling to the rest of her face was starting to go down.
"We can see a difference every day, which is heartening for us."
A trust fund for treatment for Carolina has raised $2500.
Mr Anderson is due to travel to Wellington this morning to talk to politicians. Prime Minister Helen Clark has said she is willing to meet him.
Auckland City Council manager of compliance monitoring Barry Smedts said a crackdown on dog owners walking dogs without leads had led to staff issuing 38 instant $200 fines.
Before the attack on Carolina, dog owners were first given a warning.
"The feedback I have been getting is that people are fairly understanding of getting fined," he said.
"Awareness out there is very high - very high."
Mr Smedts said there were extra patrols to check on unrestrained dogs, and there had been more public complaints since the start of the instant fine crackdown on February 6.
Staff would normally issue about eight infringement notices a month. The council would re-evaluate the change to instant fines at the end of the month.
"We're very encouraged that we might be able to make a little bit of a difference."
Herald feature: When dogs attack
How you can help
A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.
The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.
