‘It was a different level of fear and terror that I have never before experienced in my life,’ says woman, adding the dog was circling them, ‘kind of like a shark in water’
Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic accounts from witnesses at the scene of yesterday’s dog attack.
Details are starting to come out after an 11-year-old boy sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries during a dog attack on Monday morning in south Barrie.
The aggressive dog has not been found, more than 24 hours later.
A reporter spoke with three individuals who helped pull the boy away from the dog, chased it off, and then called for paramedics.
At around 8:45 a. m. on June 8, Barrie police received reports of a loose dog attacking several people in the Timberwalk neighbourhood near Essa Road and Loggers Run, including the boy who was riding his scooter. Police stated that the child was attacked while trying to escape.
The boy was taken to a local hospital where he remains as of Tuesday.
Barrie police quickly launched a thorough search for the dog, described as a large bully breed, possibly mastiff, with light brown fur. It had a red leash attached to its collar.
The dog’s path was traced to Loggers Run and then later spotted around Patterson Road and Florence Park before being seen near Dove Crescent, according to police reports.
One woman who wished to remain anonymous said she witnessed the attack while driving along Essa Road.
“This attack was not provoked,” she said. “This boy was minding his business, riding his scooter on his way to school.”
She mentioned that the dog was about 20 feet behind the boy with its leash dragging behind its handler on the ground.
“The dog attack started on the sidewalk and the boy dropped his scooter and ran down the hill to get away,” she explained. “I stopped my vehicle and ran after him as the dog gave chase and kept attacking.”
The woman noted that even the dog’s handler tried protecting the boy with his own body but ended up getting attacked too.
“I managed to pull the dog off four or five times, but it was very strong and focused on attacking them,” she said.
A man arrived shortly thereafter and also assisted in getting the dog away from the boy by hitting it with a snow brush.
“Myself and nearby residents held back the dog so this gentleman could pick up the boy and place him in his car,” she added. “Even as he carried him toward safety, the dog attacked again.”
The witness estimated that this terrifying incident lasted around two or three minutes.
“The boy is lucky to be alive. The dog wasn’t giving up,” she remarked.
The woman shared that the child suffered serious injuries including damage to his head, upper arms, lower legs, hands, and more.
The others who came outside assisted in calling emergency services while providing support for him and bringing items to help cover his wounds.
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