Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Apr 22/02) - A Fort Smith boy is recovering after being attacked by a dog on a town street.

Andrew Heron, 10, suffered bites to his back, left leg and right arm in the attack by a German shepherd-Rottweiler cross on April 14.

"He grabbed me by the leg and pulled me over a snowbank," said Andrew.

The boy, who was also bitten by a dog two years ago, said he would like to see something done about loose dogs. "Tie them up."

Andrew ended up in a wheelchair while his wounds healed.

His mother, Misty Loutit, said most of the concern is over the bite on her son's arm. "The skin was totally removed."

She said her son was attacked after coming to the aid of a six-year-old cousin, who had been knocked down by the dog.

The girl had been bitten by a dog two months ago.

There were several cousins walking to a park at the time of the attack. One threw a snowball at the dog when it approached the girl, while Andrew pushed his bike at the animal to try to get it to go away.

Loutit said the dog had escaped from its owners, who were looking for it at the time of the attack. They came upon the scene and got their dog off her son.

The animal has since been destroyed.

Loutit said she is not going to take any civil action over the incident.

"It could have been worse," she said.

However, she said she has obtained a copy of the town of Fort Smith animal control bylaw, and wants dog owners to know that they are responsible for their pets. "They could be liable for a dog's actions."

Loutit said she also intends to launch a petition this week to get the bylaw toughened.

"It's a problem in the community," she said of loose dogs.