No police charges after pit bull bites baby girl's face
Ottawa police say they will not lay charges after an incident in which a pit bull bit a baby girl's face on Sunday.
Emergency crews had responded to the 90 block of Draffin Court Sunday morning, where they found a baby girl — Cali Leclair — with “multiple severe lacerations” to her face.
Paramedics took her to hospital for surgery. She was listed in serious but stable condition at the time.
The baby lost most of her nose and her breathing could be affected for the rest of her life, paramedics said. The dog has been taken into custody by bylaw services and is scheduled to be euthanized.
Police said the child was bitten on the nose while the family was playing with the pit bull inside their home. Neighbours say the dog, named Boss, had bitten a child before.
The Ottawa police were assisting the Children's Aid Society with its investigation. The City of Ottawa's bylaw department, which took the pit bull into its custody, is also investigating.
But police said Monday afternoon they had concluded their investigation and said they could not establish "any criminal element in this matter."
The parents of the child could have faced a charge of up to $10,000, and possibly six months in jail, if they knew the dog had a history of attacks.
Neighbour Beatrice Mushanga said the baby's family, which has two other dogs, had taken the pit bull from a friend who was unable to train it. The dog was undergoing rehabilitation.
In Ontario, it’s illegal to own, import or breed a pit bull, which is one of several breeds, including the Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, pit bull terrier, or any mix thereof.
People who owned pit bulls before the ban was put in place in August 2005 were allowed to keep their animals, but owners are ordered to ensure the dogs are spayed or neutered.
The dogs also have to be muzzled and leashed in public.
The law gives judges the right to put down the animals if they’ve been involved in an attack.
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