Woman sought after attack by 2 large dogs in midtown Toronto - Toronto Star

The victim’s dog suffered life-threatening injuries, while the victim sustained injuries that weren't life-threatening, police say.

Police are looking for a woman who is facing three charges following the dog attack Thursday in the Avenue Road and Roxborough Street area.

Police are looking for a 40-year-old woman in connection with a dog attack that left another canine and its owner injured in Toronto’s Summerhill neighbourhood earlier this week. 

Investigators responded to an animal complaint in the Avenue Road and Roxborough Street area, Toronto police said in a news release Saturday. 

A suspect had two dogs — both described as being from a large breed of pit bull or bull terrier — in an enclosed off-leash area of a nearby park on Thursday, police said. The victim was walking their leashed dog near the off-leash area when the suspect’s dogs both escaped the enclosure, charged and attacked the victim and the victim’s dog.

The suspects’ dogs are described as being from a large breed of pit bull or bull terrier, police said.

The victim’s dog suffered life-threatening injuries and the victim sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, according to investigators.

Police have identified and released a photo of the 40-year-old suspect. She is wanted on charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and two counts each of failing to prevent a dog from biting or attacking and dog biting a person or domestic animal. 

The latter two charges fall under the Dog Owners’ Liability Act, investigators said.

The accused is described as about five-foot-10 with a heavy build and was last seen wearing a navy-blue hair bonnet, a mustard-coloured hoodie, light-coloured pants and dark shoes with white soles, according to police.

The dogs are described as possibly dark grey or grey, and one has a white chest.

Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 416-808-5300, or to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at either 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at 222tips.com.

Ontario banned people from owning pit bulls in 2005, with some exceptions. 

The ban came into effect after a string of dog attacks, including a 2004 incident in which two pit bulls viciously attacked a 25-year-old man in a Toronto parking lot.

The pit bull ban, which falls under the Dog Owner’s Liability Act, states that people aren’t allowed to own, breed or transfer pit bulls. In addition, people aren’t allowed to let a pit bull stray or to train the dog for fighting.