‘I thought I was going to die’: 11-year-old dog attack victim speaks out

Arthur Camilotti, the 11-year-old boy who was attacked by a dog last week, tells CTV News he thought he was going to die.

Warning: Graphic content

The countless scars and wounds suffered by 11-year-old Arthur Camilotti of Barrie, Ont., tell a terrifying tale.

“He got me on the head and in the back, and he got me on my leg and also on my left arm and my left hand,” Arthur tells CTV News.

Arthur was riding his scooter to school last week when he says he was attacked by a pit bull looking-dog along Essa Road, by Loggers Run.

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“I honestly thought I was going to die because I felt my arm was about to rip like out of my body. It was horrible,” says Arthur.

“Then the dog got my arm and my leg, then I was on the ground getting dragged,” he adds.

Shawn Hillan witnessed the attack last week and ran over to help.

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“I hit it pretty hard in the head with my snow brush where my snow brush broke and that’s when the dog kind of backed up a bit and my first instinct was to grab the boy,” Hillen told CTV last week.

Arthur suffered severe injuries and required a three-hour surgery, hundreds of stitches, and stayed in hospital for four days recovering.

The dog escaped and wasn’t spotted by police until days later when it was ultimately shot.

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Arthur’s parents say the local health unit has informed them the dog shot by police did not have rabies.

Arthur has had to get three rabies shots as a precaution.

City of Barrie bylaw tells CTV News “enforcement services continue to work with Barrie police on the investigation, and we are aware of a suspected owner of the dog that we are attempting to locate.”

The 11-year-old will not return to school until September. However, a number of classmates have sent him well wishes and cards.

Arthur says he is lucky to have recovered.

“When I think about the attack, it hurts a little, but then I realize that I’m okay now and nothing is going to be happening,” says Arthur.

Arthur tells CTV News he is thankful for the heroic efforts of Hillen that day.

He also says he is feeling better by the day and thanks everyone for their well wishes.