The woman charged in connection with a dog attack in Toronto that left a nine-year-old boy with “life-changing injuries” had previously been found by a court to be an irresponsible dog owner, CTV News has learned.
A family day out at a playground near Lake Shore Boulevard West and Bathurst Street on Saturday morning took a turn when an off-leash dog charged at the boy through an open gate.
Police said the dog bit and dragged the child to the ground, and after the dog’s father and owner got the dog to let go of the child, the owner fled. Patrycja Siarek, 38, was arrested and charged in connection with the incident, and a dog was seized. On Tuesday, Siarek was released on bail.
This is not the first time accusations have been made about Siarek’s “irresponsible” dog ownership and the “ruthless” behavior of his dogs.
Sabita Singh told CTV News Toronto that she rented a condo to Siarek and his partner in 2021, a move that would soon turn into a $100,000 legal battle that would last months and culminate in eviction.
“Right after they moved in, there were dog complaints,” Singh said in an interview.
A March 14, 2022 court decision details a violent incident involving one of Siarek’s two American Pocket Bullies in December 2021, where a resident and her own dog were “brutally attacked” and seriously injured.
“His dog entered the elevator alone and lunged at the individual and the puppy,” Singh said.
Court documents reveal that the city ordered that dogs be muzzled in public. Judge Fred Myers noted that he saw video evidence that that order was ignored, as later that month, one of Siarek’s dogs was again seen entering the apartment’s elevator without a leash.
Myers added that he saw several videos of Siarek “having to use his body weight to stop one of the dogs from charging at residents, including a child,” and that he had trouble physically restraining his dogs.
“The video of the attack on December 4, 2021 leaves no doubt about the vicious behavior that dogs are capable of. They should not be in a condominium with people and children with owners who are unwilling or unable to protect their neighbors.” , Myers wrote in the decision.
According to Singh, animal control visited the unit because its former tenants were not complying with the unit’s rules. Dangerous dog order.
“We thought animal control was going to take the dog at that time and instead they came out of the building and gave the dogs back to them,” Singh said.
The court decision reveals that the dogs were removed in February 2022, but since their confiscation was not ordered, they were returned to Siarek, who left with them.
The dogs were later believed to have returned to the unit, as full food bowls and pee pads were left inside the condo, dog feces were found on two separate occasions on the balcony, and another resident, who lived directly below, testified that “a bag full of “The dog droppings fell in his yard and exploded.”
After numerous warnings and no court hearings, Myers determined that Siarek and his partner violated previous court orders and ordered their eviction.
“The problem here is that tenants have dogs that they do not train or control to avoid attacking people or other people’s pets,” Myers wrote in his decision. “The dogs have been labeled ‘dangerous’ by the city. However, tenants have let them wander the hallways.”
When Singh learned of Siarek’s arrest on Sunday, she was horrified.
“I’m extremely angry about what happened. It could have been prevented and it’s heartbreaking to see that this child has been maimed as a result of this,” Singh said.
“I’m disappointed in the city and specifically animal control for not doing their job.”
While animal services seized the dog involved in the latest canine attack, they declined to comment as the matter is currently before the courts.
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Abby O’Brien