LAIRD TOWNSHIP – A dog owner east of the Sault has been charged after police say two cyclists suffered severe dog bite injuries in separate incidents on the weekend.
Police say on Saturday shortly after 5 p.m., Sault Ste. Marie OPP with the assistance from Batchewana First Nation Police Service responded to an animal complaint on Neebish Road in Laird Township.
Algoma Paramedic Services were on scene prior to police arrival and were attending to a victim with multiple dog bite wounds, the OPP said in a news release.
The victim was riding a bicycle on Neebish Road when they were attacked by two dogs and sustained injuries to their left and right buttock, hip as well as several punctures to the left forearm, and road rash to both knees, police say.
The victim was later transported to hospital in Richards Landing.
Police say they visited the victim two days later to check on their well-being and were advised the victim had also sustained a fractured collarbone.
Police say in a separate incident also on Saturday, another person who was riding a bicycle on Neebish Road was approaching the property and observed two dogs running aggressively towards them.
Police say the victim was attacked and fell to the ground. The victim fought the dogs off and ran across the roadway and again was attacked, according to police.
Police later located the victim at their residence with significant dog bite injuries to their right arm, bicep, triceps and right buttock. The victim was also transported to hospital in Richards Landing via Algoma Paramedic Services for medical treatment.
Police say Nelson Alves, 40, of Laird Township was charged on May 28 with "owner of dog - fail to prevent dog from biting, attacking a person or domestic animal."
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice Provincial Court in Sault Ste. Marie on July 3.
Also assisting with this investigation is the Algoma Public Health.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Alves is considered innocent unless proven guilty.