A dog owner has been charged with Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm after a 9-year-old girl was mauled and severely injured by three dogs at a residence in Newmarket.
On July 27, 2023, around 6:05 p.m., York police responded to a call for an animal complaint at an address on Jackson Court. A man and his 9-year-old daughter had attended a residence to view puppies for sale when three dogs rushed out of the house and attacked the girl without provocation. The victim suffered severe bites. She was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The Town of Newmarket Animal Services attended the address that evening and the three dogs were surrendered to them by the owner. The dogs were subsequently euthanized.
On August 15, Leslie Theodore Kovacs, 68, of Newmarket, was charged with Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm. He was also charged with three counts of Dog Bite a Person under the Ontario Dog Owners’ Liability Act.
Kovacs has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on September 12.
The child has since been released from hospital and continues her recovery at home.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7141. Anyone wanting to provide information anonymously can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or provide a tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
