Husky attack on N.W.T. boy called 'horrific'

A four-year-old Inuvik, N.W.T., boy and his teenage babysitter are lucky to have survived a vicious attack by a husky-mix dog, according to animal welfare officials in the northern town.

Mason Dillon remains in an Edmonton children's hospital, where he will undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries on his face, hands, scalp, and other parts of his body that were damaged in Saturday's dog attack.

According to RCMP, Dillon and the 15-year-old babysitter were waiting for a taxi in Inuvik when the boy wandered close to a doghouse on the property where Dillon's family was renting a house.

The house's landlord was caring for the dog while its owner was out of town.

Inuvik SPCA president Linda Eccles said the 73-kilogram (160-pound) husky mix attacked Dillon, seizing the child with its jaws and dragging him inside the doghouse.

The babysitter climbed into the doghouse, fought off the husky and rescued the child. She suffered cuts to her hands in the process.

"I haven't seen one as horrific as this. I've been involved with dog bites, with children that have been bitten — and adults as well — but this was a very tragic event, and the little boy got mauled," Eccles told CBC News on Tuesday.

"It was very serious. He's lucky to be alive, and the girl that rescued him is lucky to be alive."

Inuvik RCMP had said earlier this week that the boy was supervised by an adult when the attack happened, but Eccles said Dillon was under the care of the teenage girl.

It's not known why the dog attacked Dillon. RCMP have said the pet husky had no history of aggression and was chained at the time of the attack.

But Eccles said it's possible the dog may have been bothered while it was eating.

"It was a kennel close to the house, the dog was on a chain. Inside the doghouse was a leg of caribou or some sort of animal bone," she said.

"Anytime you have a bone in a doghouse, and then a child is not attended with a parent or somebody and they get too close, well, that's just asking for something tragic to happen."

Eccles said the babysitter should not be blamed for what happened. While the girl might have made a mistake by letting Dillon too close to the doghouse, she showed bravery by fighting the aggressive husky.

"She actually took her life in her hands to get that little boy out," Eccles said. "Not many people would do that."

RCMP have said no charges will be laid against the husky's owners, who have agreed to have the canine destroyed.

Members of Dillon's family are in Edmonton to keep watch on the boy as he undergoes the surgeries.

"I just hope he gets better soon and hope to see him back soon," said Roberta Dillon, a relative of the boy.