Silver Springs dog attack sends girl, 5, to hospital

A husky-type dog grabbed a five-year-old girl’s neck and dragged her by the shoulder in northwest Calgary on Sunday, landing her in hospital with serious injuries.

Two dogs were apprehended by bylaw officers, who are still trying to track down the owners.

The girl was walking with her nine-year-old brother to the park at Silver Springs School in the 7200 block of Silver Mead Road N.W. when two dogs approached them from behind at around 10:30 a.m., said the children’s mother.

“Only one of them got her,” said the woman, who requested that her name and her children’s names not be published for their safety. “He grabbed her by the throat and started to drag her.”

While the boy went to get his stepfather, a man driving by jumped out of his van and tackled the attacking dog. Other neighbours called 911 when they heard the little girl’s screams.

Police officers and emergency crews arrived shortly after and found the girl suffering from multiple bites in the “upper torso” area. She was taken to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in serious but stable, condition, said EMS spokesman Adam Loria.

“She’s doing good. She’s just in for surgery to make sure there’s no other damage done,” her mother said.

Her son wasn’t injured, but he was “traumatized” by the mauling, she added.

The dogs were not leashed and there were no owners with them, she said.

Bill Bruce, director of animal and bylaw services, said the dogs — both husky-types — are being held at a city facility.

“Now we’re going to locate an owner, take witness statements and proceed with charges,” he said.