Brockville child bitten in the face by family dog

(Newswatch Group/File)

BROCKVILLE – A young child has been hospitalized after being bitten in the face by a family pet.

Police were called to a north-end home just after noon yesterday (May 24) where the Rottweiler-Labrador mix had bitten the girl.

The circumstances leading up to the bite are not known.

Brockville Police Service Staff Sgt. Todd Bertrend told Brockville Newswatch the injuries are “fairly severe” and the child was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The local health unit has been notified.

Margaret Hendriks, manager of infection control and vaccine preventable with the Leeds-Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, told Brockville Newswatch they are called anytime an animal bite case shows up at doctor’s offices, hospitals or veterinary clinics.

The main concern for the health unit is whether an animal is vaccinated for rabies and if the victim needs a rabies vaccination.

While Hendriks couldn’t speak to this specific case due to privacy issues, she said the public health department will consult with the family about providing proof of a rabies shot for their domestic cat or dog.

If not, the health unit will ask that the pet be under a ten day quarantine.

The health unit deals with roughly 350 animal bites cases in the tri-county area every year.

Since it was a family pet, the animal was not quarantined by the municipality or police, Staff Sgt. Bertrend explained.

Police are not sure what the owners plan to do with the dog.