Winnipeg housing co-op residents scared, angry after 5-year-old attacked by dogs

CBC

4 hours ago

Fear and anger are growing in a northwest Winnipeg housing complex, after a mother says her young daughter was attacked by two dogs that she says have a history of aggressive behaviour.
"We now have a little girl who comes home, comes straight in the house, and won't play outside unless we nudge her," Judy Cymbalisty said. "She's scared, and now when she hears a dog she runs in crying and screaming.
"She thinks every dog is out to get her."
Cymbalisty lives in the Seven Oaks Garden Housing Co-operative in West Kildonan with her husband and her two kids.
She says on June 6, her five-year-old daughter, Brooklynn, was walking to see a friend in the complex when she was attacked from behind by two American bulldogs in an outside common area.
The dogs attacked the girl after forcing their way out of their owner's home through a storm door, according to Cymbalisty.
She was at work when her husband called her about the attack, and said she frantically drove home, not knowing the extent of her daughter's injuries.
"These are American bulldogs — they have big jaws," she said. "I had the very worst scenario in mind.
"I was a basket case when I was driving home."
Community rallies around 5-year-old girl attacked by dogs
30 minutes ago
Duration 2:21
Members of a Winnipeg housing co-op are rallying around a five-year-old girl after she was attacked by two large dogs as she was walking in a common area just steps from her home.
Although not as bad as Cymbalisty thinks they could have been, Brooklynn had serious injuries, including four punctures to the back of her head, a puncture though her ear, and multiple scrapes and scratches on her upper and lower body.
The girl was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack and later released.
Along with the physical trauma, Cymbalisty said her daughter has also been forced to deal with the mental trauma caused by the attack.
"Physically she's healing, but mentally we have a lot of work ahead of us," said Cymbalisty, who confirmed that they have been taking Brooklynn to see a therapist since the attack.
'Extremely worried' residents: board member
Cymbalisty lodged a complaint with the city's animal services but has been frustrated by what she sees as a lack of urgency to deal with a problem she says has everyone in the complex on edge.
A petition has also been started by tenants of the complex asking that the dogs be removed.
"We have other members of the co-op who are concerned and have asked questions about, 'is it safe?'" she said.
Sylvia Burdey, who also lives in the complex, says the dogs have been reported to animal services before.
She said in 2021, they attacked her while trying to get at her cat, which she was holding.
A complaint was filed after the attack, she said.
In a statement sent to CBC, a City of Winnipeg spokesperson would only say an investigation is ongoing, and the city can't share any other details at this time.
Shawn Orne, the site management co-ordinator of the complex and a member of its board of directors, said there's palpable concern among residents about the dogs, and whether someone else will be attacked.
"We have young families and a lot of senior citizens on site," Orne said. "It's just got a lot of people extremely worried."
He added that so far he has seen a "lack of reaction" from both the owner and animal services.
"When there is an incident that involves a child, you expect animal services to be here quickly and be attentive — and address it fairly, but resolve it."
He added the board has had a meeting where it voted in favour of removing the dogs from the home, and has hired legal counsel as it tries to get the dogs out of the home and the neighbourhood.
"We want to ensure that everyone is represented fairly," Orne said about the decision to hire a lawyer.