Local Hero Rescues Boy from Dog Attack

A man’s swift actions-and a snow brush-might have saved an 11-year-old boy’s life after a dog attacked him Monday morning in Barrie.

It was about 8:45 a. m., near Essa Road and Loggers Run, when 28-year-old Shawn Hillan started his day like any other, noticing something unusual in the parking lot.

“I immediately drove down to it, and that’s when I noticed there was a boy getting attacked by a dog,” Hillan told Barrie360.

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He noticed a man hovering over the boy, trying to protect him but struggling.

“That’s when I immediately jumped out of my car and started kicking the dog as much as I could, trying to get it to stop from going at the boy.”

But kicking wasn’t enough.

“I didn’t see any chance of getting him stopping,” Hillan said.

So he rushed back to his car and grabbed the first thing he could find-a snow brush-and went back to where it was happening, hitting the dog until it finally backed off.

This gave Hillan and some bystanders time to try and pull the boy away. Hillan mentioned that everyone was focused on avoiding bites themselves.

“The dog ended up going back at the boy, and that’s when I kind of started hitting the dog a little harder and really trying to get it away from him. At that point, the dog kind of gave up a little bit, and that’s when I just grabbed the kid off the ground, and I threw him in my car.”

Even while holding onto the boy, Hillan said that the dog was still jumping at him and attempting to bite. Once he got the child into his car and closed the door, the animal began circling around it.

Barrie Police reported that the child was riding a scooter when he was attacked.

By the time first responders arrived on scene, the dog had vanished.

Hillan noted that the boy had serious injuries.

“His legs were cut up very severely-like deep, deep gashes-that would definitely need staples or stitches. The dog was going head to toe, biting him.”

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Once he secured the boy in his car, Hillan tried calling for his mother but got no answer. He then asked for their address since he figured they must live nearby given that he’d been walking towards school. While others attended to the child’s injuries,
Hillan dashed off toward their house.

‘I figured he needed his mom,’ he said.

When he reached their home though; unfortunately for him-the child’s mother was leaving without noticing Hillan at all.

Paramedics transported her son with serious but non-life-threatening injuries to a local hospital.

What troubles Hillan is that he’d felt something ominous coming beforehand.

‘I noticed that this neighbor had been looking after what I’m sure was a pit bull,’ said Hillan. Just days before this incident occurred; he’d seen them walking together outside with this same animal on leash during Friday night strolls.
‘I noticed how excitedly enthusiastic this pup became tugging closer like spotting something interesting ahead-but didn’t catch what caught its eye before being brought inside quickly.’ But during those moments prior leading up here? ‘I had this nagging feeling something bad would eventually happen involving this canine,’ concluded hillar hesitantly.’




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