Mia Joy Nowdlak-Fraser is pictured here, before a dog attacked her in Iqaluit on Monday. The 11-year-old was medevaced to Ottawa for treatment on Tuesday evening to treat facial injuries. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Nowdlak)
Child medevaced after dog attack in Iqaluit
11-year-old faces reconstructive surgery; bylaw investigating incident
The City of Iqaluit is investigating a dog attack Monday that left an 11-year-old girl with serious injuries to her head and face.
Mia Joy Nowdlak-Fraser encountered the dog as she was walking between houses in the downtown core of the city, said her mother Kelly Nowdlak.
After receiving care in Iqaluit, Nowdlak and her daughter were medevaced to Ottawa shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
“She needs to be assessed and treated by a plastic surgeon for injuries to her eyelid and for an area where skin is missing,” Nowdlak said through Facebook Messenger, as the pair boarded their flight. “The specialist will determine the reconstructive treatment required, including skin grafting and repair of the eyelid.”
The dog was at the back of the house at the time of the attack, Nowdlak said.
Nowdlak has made posts on social media about the incident, which have been shared across Nunavut with sentiments of concern about dog control and public safety.
“My biggest concern is making sure what happened to my daughter is taken seriously and that another person or child is not injured,” Nowdlak said.
The City of Iqaluit released a public service announcement Tuesday about the incident, saying the city recognizes the “serious concern” within the community following the attack.
Dog owners are responsible for making sure their their pets do not kill or injure others, or damage property, according to the City of Iqaluit’s animal control bylaw. Whether or not they have care and control of the dog, owners are “guilty of an offence” if the dog “attacks, threatens or injures any person.”
Deputy Mayor Kimberly Smith commented on the incident during Tuesday’s city council meeting, saying RCMP have been in touch with the family.
At first, RCMP took over as the lead investigator, with municipal enforcement providing support.
Nunatsiaq News has reached out to RCMP to ask why they took over the investigation but did not receive a response to this question.
Instead, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Ashley Daley said officers have identified the dog and its owner.
On Wednesday afternoon, city spokesperson Geoff Byrne said in a press release that the investigation had been transferred back to the city because it does not involve criminal activity.
“Based on the information gathered during [the RCMP’s] investigation, the dog was not at large at the time of the incident and was reportedly tethered,” Byrne wrote.
The RCMP has yet to transfer its file to the city’s Municipal Enforcement Department. Once the department’s review is complete, the city will provide an update, he said.
“The City recognizes the seriousness of this incident and the concern it has caused,” Byrne said.
So far this year municipal enforcement has responded to 17 dog bite incidents and seven animal cruelty complaints. The city has put down nine dogs.
Unfortunate this happened.
With this issue so common in the North with dogs wandering around why do people wait until something happens?.
“Based on the information gathered during [the RCMP’s] investigation, the dog was not at large at the time of the incident and was reportedly tethered,”
Tell me more about your blame of dogs on the loose.
Stray dogs are a problem, but it wasn’t the case with this incident. The dog was tied up in front of the house. Doesn’t make what happened okay, but might as well get the story straight.
Yes very true, it is known only when something serious or someone gets killed do City make changes, sad but true.