Charges have been laid against a Red Deer woman whose dog is alleged to have bitten a two-year-old girl.
Bylaw officer Duane Thomas, contracted to provide animal control on behalf of the City of Red Deer, has charged Jean Winter with owning a dog that caused serious injury to a person.
The charge stems from allegations that a 10-year-old female border collie had bitten Mikenna Fitzpatrick, of Blackfalds, while she and other members of her family were visiting friends in Red Deer.
The child’s mother, Christina Fitzpatrick, said earlier that Mikenna required plastic surgery to close wounds under her eye, across her nose and inside her mouth and that she has suffered emotional trauma as well.
Charged under the city’s dog bylaw, Winter is required to appear in Red Deer provincial court on July 23, where she has the option of pleading guilty and paying a fine of $2,500, said Thomas.
The city is also investigating further to determine whether or not the dog should be declared dangerous or aggressive, which could result in it being seized and humanely destroyed. Options also exist to allow the animal to remain in the home, but under tight restrictions, said Thomas.