A Newmarket man has been sentenced to one year of house arrest following a violent dog attack on a nine-year-old girl in 2023.
On July 27, 2023, Leslie Theodore Kovacs was selling puppies at his Jackson Court home when the girl and her father came to visit. Without warning, three bulldog-type dogs rushed out and attacked the child, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to York Regional Police.
Kovacs was charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and three offenses under the Ontario Dog Owners’ Liability Act. He had also violated a muzzle order previously issued by the Town of Newmarket.
Following the attack, the dogs were surrendered and euthanized.
On Tuesday, Kovacs pleaded guilty to all charges. His sentence includes:
-
One year of house arrest
-
15 months of probation
-
A lifetime ban on owning, keeping, or living with dogs
-
A $5,000 fine under the Dog Owners’ Liability Act
In a statement, York Regional Police and Newmarket Animal Services stressed the importance of responsible pet ownership and controlling aggressive dogs.