Dog owner charged after attack and bite by cyclist on Neebish Road

LAIRD TOWNSHIP – Charges have been filed against a dog owner east of Sault after two bicyclists suffered serious dog bite injuries in separate incidents over the weekend, according to police.

Police said Sault Ste. Marie OPP, with assistance from Batchewana First Nation Police Service, responded to a complaint of an animal on Neebish Road in Laird Township shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday.

Algoma Emergency Services were on scene before police arrived and cared for a victim with numerous dog bite wounds, the OPP said in a news release.

This victim was riding his bicycle on Neebish Road when he was attacked by two dogs, suffering injuries to his left and right buttocks and hip, multiple puncture wounds to his left forearm and abrasions to both knees, police said.

The victim was later taken to the hospital in Richards Landing.

Police said they visited the victim two days later to check on his well-being and were informed that he had also suffered a broken collarbone.

According to police, another incident also occurred on Saturday: Another person was riding a bicycle on Neebish Road, approached the property and observed two dogs running aggressively toward them.

According to police, the victim was attacked and fell to the ground. The victim fought off the dogs, ran across the road and was attacked again, police said.

Police later found the victim in his residence with significant dog bite injuries to his right arm, bicep, tricep and right buttock. The victim was also transported to the hospital in Richards Landing by the Algoma Paramedic Service for medical treatment.

According to police, Nelson Alves, 40, of Laird Township, was charged on May 28 with “dog owner – failure to restrain dog from biting or attacking a person or pet.”

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie on July 3.

Algoma Public Health is also being supported in this investigation.

None of the charges have been tested in court and Alves is presumed innocent until proven guilty.