Send this page to someone via email

A Kelowna family and RCMP are looking for help finding the owner of a dog who walked away after the animal attacked an 8-year-old boy at Gyro Beach on Tuesday morning just after 9 a.m..

“He was playing by the water and the dog ran up to my son at some point and bit him,” mom Stacey Shaw said.

Riley Dubbin-Shaw, who was with family friends at the Lakeshore Road park at the time, required numerous stitches to mend the wounds on his face.

Riley Dubbin-Shaw, an 8-year-old Kelowna boy, needed numerous stitches on his face after a dog attack on Tuesday morning. Courtesy: Stacey Shaw

“Police were told that the youth had been sitting on the beach with an adult, when a large black Labrador Retriever, possible mix breed, walked down onto the beach and dropped a stick at the boys feet,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said. “The unleashed dog reportedly lunged at the boy’s face after he picked up the stick and tossed it into the water.”

Story continues below advertisement

After the attack, Shaw said the woman was seen heading south with the unleashed black dog.

“An unknown female, believed to be the dogs owner, ran over and apologized before leaving the immediate area with her canine,” O’Donaghey said.

“Who leaves when a child is bleeding?” the boy’s mother lamented.

The woman who left with the dog is described as in her mid-40’s with blonde hair and a blue shirt.

RCMP were unsuccessful in their search for the woman on Tuesday morning.

The Kelowna RCMP have issued a plea for the dog owner to come forward.

Anyone who has information about the incident, the dog or its owner is asked to contact police at 250-762-3300 and quote file number 2019-33595.