Teenage girl charged in pit-bull attack
Last Updated Wed, 02 Mar 2005 14:06:22 EST
CBC News
OTTAWA - A 17-year-old girl has been charged with criminal negligence after three pit bulls attacked a toddler and his father in Ottawa last week.

The teenager, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm on Tuesday – the same day Ontario approved a ban on pit bulls and similar dogs.

Police also said they expect to lay criminal charges against a 21-year-old this week in connection with the attack but they wouldn't identify the man.

The dogs jumped the fence and attacked a two-year-old boy and his father as they walked through a park on Feb. 24. One pit bull clamped down on the boy's head before the man and his neighbour managed to beat the animals away. The adults were badly bitten.

FROM FEB. 26, 2005: Three pit bulls attack toddler in Ottawa

The dogs have been seized by the city.

Their owner, 21-year-old Schridev Cafe, faces six charges of violating city bylaws, with potential fines of $30,000.

He was also fined $2,100 in January, after the same animals attacked two young boys.

Ontario's legislation banning pit bulls and similar types of dogs, a first for any province or state in North America, passed by a vote of 56-23 on Tuesday.

It's expected to come into effect in the fall.

The law will allow anyone already owning a pit bull to keep it, but the dogs will have to be muzzled in public and neutered.