Dog at centre of Ontario pit bull controversy allegedly attacked teen four days after being released
Warning: The images in this story may be distressing to some readers.
A family dog that made headlines for being held by animal services under suspicion it was part pit bull has allegedly mauled a 13-year-old boy four days after it was released.
Muhammad Almutaz Alzghool, 13, said he was taken to hospital with cuts to his face and required more than 20 stitches after he was allegedly attacked by the dog following taekwondo practice in Toronto last Friday.
The dog, Dwaeji, that allegedly attacked Muhammad had been seized by Vaughan Animal Services (VAS) in October after it ran away from its family home.
The dog's owner, Tommy Chang, said last month he was expecting to get the puppy back, but was surprised when VAS told him it would be held until they determined whether the dog was part pit bull.
The dog was returned to its family more than two weeks later, after VAS said it was determined it could be lawfully released.
Four days later, Muhammad said he was at Black Belt World, a Toronto taekwondo studio that is owned by Chang.
Muhammad said that Dwaeji was at the studio Friday during his training, but was on a leash.
Muhammad -- who has always had a fear of dogs -- said when taekwondo class ended, his instructor told him to that he needed to get over his fear of dogs and brought Dwaeji closer to him.
"That's when he jumped on my face and bit it," Muhammad told CTV News Toronto.
Muhammad was taken to Sick Kid’s Hospital by ambulance, where he received more than 20 stitches.
His father, Muath Alzghool, said his son will likely have to undergo plastic surgery and has been warned by doctors that some of the scarring will be permanent.
In response to Muhammad’s claims, the lawyer representing Chang said in a statement issued Wednesday morning that the “overall circumstances of how and why” the attack occurred are “categorically false.”
“In media interviews and releases, the assertion has been that he [Muhammad] is and has always been afraid of dogs and it has been made to appear that his only encounter with Dwaeji was at the time that he was bitten and under pressure from an instructor,” lawyer Leo Kinahan said in a news release, adding that video of the attack exists, though it has not been released to the public.
“However, after review of the video, the young man engages Dwaeji on several occasions prior to being bitten and appears to show no fear or trepidation of the animal and frankly, on more than one occasion, his actions could be described as somewhat antagonistic towards the animal.”
Toronto police confirmed to CTV News Toronto they are investigating an animal bite that occurred on Nov. 5.
Vaughan Animal Services also said they received a report about the incident.
The dog has not been seized by authorities.
"He's so emotional about this," Alzghool said. "Every time he sees the mirror he just starts crying. These scars are forever."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.