É«É«À²

It bit her face and scratched down the side of her small body, leaving behind crimson gashes on her cheek that had to be stitched up by a doctor.

The culprit was an off-leash dog, Riley’s mother, Rebecca Elias, told the Star — and it left some emotional scars, too.Ìý

“She’s trying to be very brave but she’s traumatized … She’s very afraid now of all dogs,” said Elias.Ìý

“Starting a new school, trying to make friends has been hard because she can’t go outside to play,” she added. “She’s saying she looks like Frankenstein.” 

The alleged incident follows a series of high-profile dog attacks in É«É«À² as the city’s growing canine population has been adding pressure to school grounds and public parks.

In March 2024, another nine-year-old child suffered life-altering injuries after being mauled by an off-leash dog in Little Norway Park. Its owner later pleaded guilty to criminal negligence and the dog was euthanized.Ìý

And, last February, a woman and her dog were wounded in a dog attack in the Beaches.Ìý

The City of É«É«À² requires that dogs are leashed in public spaces, except for designated off-leash areas. Dogs deemed “dangerous” must be leashed and muzzled and cannot frequent off-leash dog parks. Ferrand Drive Park , according to the city’s website.Ìý

According to Elias, the dog that mauled her daughter was being walked by someone who looked like a minor.Ìý

“Dog owners themselves should be fully responsible for their dog,” she said. “I wouldn’t just gift my child a dog without knowing that they are fully capable or responsible to take care of it.” 

A spokesperson for the City of É«É«À², Jamie Slater, said that É«É«À² Animal Services is aware of the incident and that an investigation is underway.ÌýSlater could not confirm at this time whether the dog involved was off-leash and that its walker was a minor.Ìý

The Star also reached out to É«É«À² police, but they did not confirm the incident or whether it is conducting its own investigation.Ìý

At the hospital, Riley got around 10 stitches on her face, and was prescribed antibiotics and rabies shots, Elias said. There, she kept asking her mom, “Why me? Why did this dog choose me?” 

“That broke my heart,” said Elias. “I just hope that this doesn’t stick with her for the rest of her life.”