Bedford dog attack on toddler near beach sparks warning

A Halifax mother is warning other families of an off-leash dog park located beside a popular path leading to a Bedford beach, after her son was attacked by a dog last month.

Katie Steele said the incident happened July 16 when she was returning from swimming lessons at Sandy Lake beach. Steele and her three sons were walking along a gravel path that led from the lake to a parking lot. 

Between October and June, the path is considered off-leash, however during summer months dogs must remain on leashes. Immediately beside the path is a year-round off-leash space.

"My kids were maybe 50 feet ahead of me and the dog came from this direction," she said, pointing down the path.

She described the dog as a "boxer pitbull mix."

Steele said she ran to defend her three-year-old son and picked him up to protect him. She said the dog grabbed onto his bare foot with his mouth and pulled.

"When the dog pulled him out of my arms and onto the ground, I honestly thought that this could be the end," she said.

After Steele struggled with the dog for a few moments, the owner emerged from the woods. The owner gained control of the dog and Steele called for paramedics to help her son's scratched face and injured foot.

"It was bleeding heavily," Steele said. "And the toe was almost off. I had to hold his toe in place to keep the wound closed."

She said she doesn't agree with the city's decision to place a dog park in such close proximity to a path frequented by young children.

"I don't know why they would choose a park, as an off-leash park when it's right next to a beach that they are encouraging little children to swim at," she said.

A spokesperson for the city says officials have placed an order to create and install additional signage along the path.

Steele said she filed a complaint with municipal animal services and that the dog's owner was told to keep the animal on a leash at all times for 10 days. That period expired in the last week of July.

"It could be here today," Steele said. "Some kids could be bitten again."