A Laurentian mother is calling on dog owners to be vigilant after her 5-year-old toddler was disfigured by a Great Dane in early September who had to be muzzled in the presence of children.
• Also read: A child was fatally attacked by a dog in Nunavik
“If we had known he was an aggressive dog we could have taken precautions with the children in the yard. It would have been to muzzle him, tie him up,” laments Sara Boisclair.
On September 7, his son Madden was enjoying himself at a friend’s house with other friends in Mont-Laurier when Piston, a Great Dane, approached him. It’s also a breed known for its gentleness.
“They thought the dog was going to lick him because he didn’t cry out and he ended up attacking him,” summarizes Ms. Boisclair.
One of the young people had to hit the beast with a broom to stop the attack. Adults at the scene then found the child with a bloody face and deep cuts.
An ophthalmologist and a plastic surgeon worked on the wounds in the operating room for more than five hours for Madden, who nearly lost his eye.
“He has a tube in his eye that replaces the tear duct,” says Sara Boisclair. According to the doctors, he was very lucky that his eye was not further affected.
recommendations
The mother-of-five was also concerned to learn that a dog behavior practitioner last year recommended muzzled the dog or isolating it around children.
According to our information, the euthanized Great Dane repeatedly showed aggression towards the children with whom she lived.
Courtesy of Sara Boisclair
Its owner, who declined to speak to the Journal, had called an expert after one of the youths was injured.
“For owners who have their dog evaluated and have recommendations, it’s important that they are followed,” stresses Sara Boisclair, who, like Madden’s father, can count on a fundraiser during his absence from work to help cover costs resulting from the Attack.
refusal
The majority of masters have difficulty recognizing that their animal could be dangerous, says Sonia Bérubé, canine behavioral therapist.
Regardless of the Great Dane’s general habits, one needs to be on guard, she adds.
“A dog is a dog. It is an animal that has teeth, that has its qualities and its flaws. You have to accept it as it is and see it as it is,” puts Ms. Bérubé into perspective.