Mississauga to review leash-free dog park policy

The City of Mississauga will be reviewing the policy on leash free dog parks following last week’s vicious attack on a 3year-old girl, with at least one councillor believing kids shouldn’t be allowed in the parks.

Georgia Lund is continuing to recover at home from puncture wounds and lacerations she sustained when a large dog, a husky, attacked her on Sept. 23 while she was in the Parkway Belt dog park with her grandfather and brother.

The owner of the dog has yet to come forward, despite a public plea from police and the little girl’s family.

The incident has instigated a debate on whether children should even be allowed in these areas where dogs are roaming freely.

“As many dogs are not socialized with small children, parents should not be bringing their small children with them to a leash-free area,” said Shane McNeil, former director of Leash Free Mississauga, a volunteer group that pays for and oversees the parks.

Last year, there were 15 reported dog biting incidents at the city’s eight leash-free zones. This year, to date, there have been eight, according to the City of Mississauga.

The City of Brampton doesn’t allow children under 10 into its leash-free parks, whereas other municipalities beside and around Mississauga, including Hamilton and Milton, allow children but require them to be supervised and strongly urge parents and adults to be mindful of child safety.