A trial began Tuesday for the man charged after a child was bitten by a dog in a Thunder Bay park two years ago.

after his dog allegedly bit Dante Mekanak at Tarbutt Dante Mekanak, pictured with his mother, Samantha, after he received treatment for a dog bite at Tarbutt Park in November of 2012. (Supplied) Park in November of 2012. Mekanak was 11 years old at the time. Frank Vantroba was charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and unlawfully causing bodily harmMekanakTarbutt

Mekanak's friend, 14-year-old Rodney Green was the first witness to take the stand in court. He was with Mekanak when the incident took place.

Green described how Mekanak hopped over the boards of a hockey rink at the park, and a dog ran up to him, jumped on him twice, and then bit him. Green testified Mekanak's lip was hanging off his face, "by one little piece of skin."

Green said he did not see the actual attack, but saw his friend fall to the ground after the dog ran towards him, and then hold his face to try and stop the bleeding. He said there were a number of dogs in the hockey rink.

Green said the dog's owner came over, and asked the boy if he was OK. He added that the owner looked at Mekanak's lip then said, "That's fine, go home."

The boys ran to Mekanak's mother's home, and the victim was taken to hospital, receiving 65 stitches.

The Superior Court has scheduled three days for the trial.