The city’s manager of licensing and enforcement division is recommending putting down the dog that allegedly attacked an 11-year-old-boy over the weekend.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers charged a 56-year-old-man with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. On Saturday, a boy climbed over hockey boards at the Westfort park, unaware there were dogs in an enclosed rink area. The boy was allegedly attacked by a larger dog and required 65 stitches to his face.
Now that the police have finished, Ron Bourret, manager of the city’s licensing and enforcement division, said they will now be conducting their own investigation.
Bourret said they will be asking the courts to euthanize the dog, believed to be a boxer, and slapping substantial fine on the owner in the range of $5,000 to $10,000.
He said the charges will include failure to leash and license the animal.
“It’s time the public be made aware to the seriousness of this matter and not take it lightly,” Bourret said.
“People need to stop going to parks and not leashing a dog and thinking you have it under control. Many of the bites we’re getting across Canada and in other areas deals with someone allowing someone else to pet their dog and the dog suddenly turns for whatever reason aggressive and it attacks. Unfortunately, most are young children. People must take it serious.”
He said charges will be under the dog owners liability act and added that the animals are with the owner and an order will be issued Tuesday in regards to leashing and muzzling the involved in the attack dog until court proceeding are completed.
