In a disquieting encounter at the Henry Street Dog Park in Woodstock, Ontario, a regular visitor, Kristin Bailey, reports having endured a brutal attack by a man known to reside in a nearby homeless encampment. Bailey recalled the chilling incident, expressing profound frustration and bewilderment at such an unforeseen turn of events transpiring in a place usually known for its serene, canine-loving environment.
On that ill-fated Monday evening, around 8:30 p.m., a man sauntered into the park through a back gate shrouded in darkness. Bailey’s protective canine immediately sensed the intrusion, barking incessantly and snapping at the stranger’s heels. She attempted to defuse the situation, engaging in a war of words that escalated terrifyingly into physical violence.
Explaining the harrowing ordeal, Bailey detailed the relentless attack. “He lunged at me, pummeling me with around 30 punches to my face and head. When I fell, he callously continued his assault with kicks,” she narrated.
Present during this nightmare, Bailey’s friend, Andrea Jones, attested to the dread-filled evening. “I was petrified, panicking as I witnessed the horrific ordeal,” Jones admitted.
Following the onslaught, Bailey was rushed to a nearby hospital, her injuries confirming a concussion and multiple bruising on her face and rib cage.
Bailey and Jones both voiced their concerns about the homeless encampments dotted around the dog park. They revealed that residents frequently use the park’s back entrance to draw water from the fountain. Consequently, they called on the city to install additional lighting, and break up the encampments for safety.
These appeals were refuted by Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione, citing the inhabitants’ rights to stay due to laws and constraints in the city’s homeless support system. He revealed that the city had instigated a task force in April to address the issue of homeless encampments, predicting 25 additional beds for the homeless will be operational by the end of October.
In the ongoing situation, the city indicated plans to add more lighting in the dog park, but admitted challenges in directing electricity to its remotest corners.
Jones articulated her and Bailey’s shared fear. “It’s distressing because their intrusion through the back gate puts both our dogs and them in danger. An unfortunate biting incident could cause our dogs to be in trouble,” Jones lamented.
