- Details
- By Darren Thompson
TEN LAKE TOWNSHIP, Minn.—A 3-year-old girl was attacked and severely injured by a dog while playing outside with her mother on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, according to local law enforcement.
The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Leech Lake Tribal Police and Leech Lake Ambulance were dispatched to a home in Ten Lake Township, which is located within the exterior boundaries of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. According to a press release issued by the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the child suffered from severe injuries from the attack and was transported to the Cass Lake Indian Health Services hospital in Cass Lake.
The child was later flown to a hospital in Fargo, North Dakota for further treatment.
Leech Lake Tribal Police Department officers and a Beltrami County deputy located the dog that attacked the child and took it into custody of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe’s (LLBO) Animal Control. A disposition of the dog is pending, authorities said.
Earlier this year, Native News Online reported a deadly dog attack on the Fort Hall Indian reservation in Idaho, where a 7-year-old boy was mauled to death by four dogs. His mother was attacked and severely injured, leaving her in intensive care for more than a week.
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe had not released a statement regarding the incident, but it does have policies that regulate dogs, or the control of them, on the reservation.
While living on the reservation, owners must register their dogs with the Tribe’s Public Safety Division for $10 a year. Dogs on the reservation deemed as “dangerous”, such as Rottweilers, pit bulls, Dobermans, shepherds, and/or mixed breeds, that are on private land or non-Tribal housing must have a $50,000 liability insurance certificate. Rottweilers, pit bulls, Dobermans, shepherds, and/or mixed breeds are prohibited on tribal housing and property on the Reservation.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
National Indian Gaming Commission Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland Honored with Woman Warrior Award
Haaland Speaks Directly to Voters on Trump, GOP Cuts to Clean Energy Jobs & Electricity Savings for NM Families
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.