Child seriously hurt in dog attack at park

Handler fled area after helping father free the victim

A child has life-altering injuries after being attacked by an off-leash dog Saturday morning in a park on Toronto’s waterfront.

Toronto police are asking for the public’s help to identify the dog and the woman who was with the dog.

At 10:15 a.m., police responded to an animal complaint call at Little Norway Park on Queens Quay West, near Bathurst Street.

According to police reports, a woman was inside the playground area with an off-leash dog when a father and his child approached the playground.

Dogs are not allowed in the playground, as indicated by signs displayed on the fence.

The dog charged at the child through an open gate, police said. The dog bit and dragged the child, while the dog’s handler and the child’s father tried to get the dog to release the child. After helping to rescue the child, the woman fled the area with her dog, police said.

Area resident and dog owner, Eileen Eloi, said she was told the woman walking the dog was not its owner. However, police have not confirmed whether the woman is the owner.

Eloi was out walking her dog Grayson near the park between 9 and 10 a.m. Saturday when she came across two of her neighbours who told her about the incident. Eloi said one of them was on the phone reporting the incident to police.

Police have released suspect descriptions of the dog and its handler. The woman with the dog is described as 30 to 40 years old with a large build and between five-footnine to five-foot-11. She was seen with dark hair in a ponytail and was wearing glasses, a blue winter jacket and black pants.

The dog is described as black, tan and white and was seen wearing a black hooded jacket and a chain collar.

A week ago, Andreas Salgado, who lives and walks his dog Max in the area, saw the woman and dog whose photos are being circulated by police. Salgado said he believes the woman lives in the neighbourhood.

Larissa Watson, a resident who walks her golden retriever Daisy in the area, says dog owners need to be mindful of their surroundings before letting a dog off-leash.

Other dog owners who live in the area also stressed that dogs should never be let off leash around kids.

“Ultimately, it’s up to the dog owners to be responsible,” Watson said.

Kaushal Brahmbhatt, a cashier at Little Basket Grocery and Convenience located across from the park, told the Star that the area is not busy on Saturday mornings. He has seen very few off-leash dogs in the area, he said, adding he did not see the attack.

Eloi says people should not take their dogs to areas where they are not allowed, such as the playground where Saturday morning’s incident took place.

If a dog attacks someone, Eloi says, the owner or handler should “do the responsible thing and stick around.”

“Dog owners should know their dog,” Salgado said.