INUVIK - A four-year-old boy was viciously attacked by a dog that dragged him into its kennel Saturday afternoon, Feb. 12. The boy was sent to Edmonton with serious injuries to his face.

Linda Eccles shows a picture of her granddaughter Danika showing how to properly care for a dog, while in her office in Inuvik earlier this week. As the manager of the Beaufort Delta SPCA, she has seen far too many cases of animal cruelty, some leading to attacks. She said she wants to educate people on how to care for and act around animals. - Kira Curtis/NNSL photo

"I haven't seen one as horrific as this," said Linda Eccles, executive director of the Beaufort Delta SPCA, who visited the scene after the attack.

Eccles said she was shocked to hear about the incident, adding she was familiar with the dog. Eccles described the animal as a family pet that had not been aggressive before.

RCMP Const. Derek Young said the boy was at home with a 15-year-old babysitter at the time. Young said that from what he understands, the girl had called a cab and the boy was outside playing with the black and white sled dog - a larger breed husky mix.

Although the dog was being kept on the boy's family's property, it doesn't belong to them, according to the RCMP.

"He was playing with the dog, which he has done in the past, and like I say, there was no previous history of aggression," Young said, describing the incident, "and the dog suddenly attacked him in the face."

When the dog attacked and dragged the boy into its kennel, Eccles said it was the quick action by the babysitter that rescued him from the estimated 150 to 160 pound animal.

"She actually took her life in her hands to get that little boy out, and not many people would do that." Eccles said. "She fought the dog off."

Eccles said a taxi driver arrived on the scene and took the boy to the hospital. By early Sunday morning, a medical team had assembled and arrived from Edmonton to take the boy south.

The dog is being kept in a secure compound near the dump. It is under observation for rabies and will be put down, the RCMP said.

Young said it is extremely unusual to see such a severe attack, especially on a known and trained dog.

"There's reports once and a while that come in that a dog has nipped or bit, but this is a full on dog attack where someone's been actually mauled," Young said. "This one was that we believe to be an unprovoked, sudden attack that happened with a known dog with no previous history of aggression."

When Eccles arrived at the scene of the attack the next day she found the dog on a chain in a kennel closest to the house. She also found an animal bone inside the dog house.

"Anytime you have a bone in a dog house, and the child is not attended with a parent, or somebody, and they get too close, well that's just asking for something tragic to happen," Eccles said.

Eccles said people in the community should educate their children about pets. "Sit them down, talk to them, maybe go get some books from the library," she said from her office on Tuesday. "Teach them while they're young to be caring to their pet; never put their face down to them when they're eating food; pet them gently; talk to the dogs."

Eccles explained she often finds people don't take pet ownership seriously and often little kids are left alone with big dogs when they shouldn't be.

"Every dog is a potential biter, there is no such thing as a dog that won't bite." Eccles said. "I was saddened and shocked to hear this, but we have to remember that a four-year-old, if they're not with an adult and they're using something, picking up a stick or they're teasing, well, it's just a tragedy going to happen."

Eccles said kids, especially young children, tend to tease and prod at animals, and that it's up to the parents to teach them how to be gentle, as well as never leave them alone.

"At the end of the day the parent for a young child is responsible. We are the ones that teach our children," she said. "A child four-years of age should never be alone with a dog. Never."

"We want to remind all parents with small children to exercise extreme caution when dealing with all animals, you just never know," Young added.

Eccles isn't placing blame but said every one needs to have respect for animals as well as be cautious about what they are capable of.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.