The dog that attacked an eight-year-old girl in a Brossard park Sunday afternoon has been euthanized.
According to Longueuil police, the owner authorized it.
Some in the neighbourhood say the police and the city could have done more to prevent the attack, including local resident Neil Alexander, who claims his dog was attacked by the same animals in May.
After two pit bulls ran out on the street and attacked his dog, Alexander said he had reported the incident to the police and the city of Brossard.
His dog was badly injured, and Alexander was left with an expensive veterinarian bill.
“(They) cut a big gash on her cheek and I don't know, she required something like 25 stitches to close it. And there was also a hole on her forehead, another bite mark. And lucky she didn't lose an eye,” he said, adding that he filed reports on the matter.
“I said in one of the communications with the city that something should be done before somebody gets really hurt,” said Alexander, adding that his warning went unanswered.
The city of Brossard said dangerous dogs should be reported by phoning 911.
Alexander said when he called in May, the police visited the dog owner.
“He did give them two tickets of $150 each for not having their dogs on leash,” said Alexander, adding that the fines did little to prevent last weekend’s violent attack.
Alexander claims the same dogs ran into Marquise Park on Sunday, where one of them attacked the eight-year-old girl, who remains in hospital recovering from her injuries. The investigation into that attack is still ongoing.
Police could not confirm if the same dogs attacked Alexander's dog more than four months ago.
Alexander said neighbours have been concerned for quite some time about those dogs. They said the pit bull owners use an overturned recycling bin as a fence and don't keep collars on their dogs.
“There are several municipal regulations regarding dogs,” explained Longueuil police spokesperson Melanie Mercelle. That includes the requirement to have them on a leash in public places.
