A dog that mauled an eight-year-old girl in a Quebec park, sending her to hospital with serious head injuries, has been euthanized.
Police in Longueuil, Que. said the owner of the dog gave authorities permission to have the dog put down.
The young girl was attacked while playing in Marquise Park in Brossard, Que. on Sunday. Witnesses said the dog bit and clawed at her face, head and neck before it could be pulled away. The girl underwent a seven-hour surgery and is recovering in hospital.
The girl’s grandfather, Francois Biron, told CTV Montreal that his granddaughter will need rehabilitation.
“To learn how to speak first because she has difficulties to open up the mouth,” Biron said. “(Her) mouth is still under metal frames, bolted.”
Witnesses have described the dog as a pit bull. Police said it was a “massive” and “muscular” dog that weighed about 100 pounds.
Neighbours in the area, meanwhile, say more could have been done to prevent the attack.
Neil Alexander said his dog was attacked by two pit bulls in May, and claims one of the dogs was the same one that attacked the young girl.
Alexander said his dog suffered serious injuries and he was left with a hefty veterinarian bill.
“(They) cut a big gash on her cheek and she required something like 25 stitches to close it… Luckily she didn't lose an eye,” he said.
Alexander reported the incident to police and to the city.
“I said in one of the communications with the city that something should be done before somebody gets really hurt,” he said, adding that his warning went unanswered.
Police could not confirm if the same dogs attacked Alexander's dog more than four months ago and say they are continuing to investigate the incident.
With a report from CTV Montreal
