Kevin WIlson and Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 21/01) - Laurence Lemouel no longer walks the same way to school. He carries a large stick and is afraid to visit homes with dogs.

Fred Lemouel, with son Laurence. "He used to go visit people, now he'll make me walk with him." - Kevin Wilson/NNSL photo

"He used to go visit people, now he'll make me walk with him," said his father, Fred.

While walking home from school on Remembrance Day, the 10-year-old was attacked by a large labrador-wolf cross.

Two loose dogs chased Laurence and his friend down Butler Road. The lab cross sank its teeth into Laurence.

"(The dog) held on to me for about 10 seconds," said Laurence. "When I started screaming, the dog ran off, and I got back up and started yelling for help."

Laurence suffered puncture wounds to his left forearm.

It's the fourth time the dog's owner has been charged with having her dogs at large. This time, she was fined $600.

Fred Lemouel said he doesn't know why the dog wasn't put down. "In the old days, even if they needed a dog, if it bit a human, that was it," said Lemouel.

During a Dec. 11 hearing before justice of the peace France Benoit, Lemouel asked that the dog be destroyed. Instead, the owner was only fined the minimum.

"I asked the JP if she would take responsibility if the dog bit someone else, and she said, 'Yes, I will take responsibility'," recalled Lemouel. "The main thing I'm worried about is other kids.".

Lemouel is appealing the ruling.