Dog bites child in the face at Midsummer event in Vantaa
A child was bitten in the face by a dog during a Midsummer event organised by the Korso Pentecostal Congregation in Vantaa on Saturday, 20 June. The incident occurred at around 6 PM in the congregation’s parking lot, where tent meetings were being held for children and adults.
According to an eyewitness cited by Iltalehti, the dog—a Labrador Retriever—had been resting in the shade of a rose bush when a young girl approached it from behind in an attempt to pet it. The dog turned and bit the girl in the face, causing heavy bleeding. The girl’s father, who was nearby, immediately took her into his arms. The eyewitness reported that the sight of blood and the girl’s screams frightened many other children at the event.
Security personnel at the event called an ambulance, which transported the girl for further medical treatment. The eyewitness stated that the wound required numerous stitches. A police patrol later arrived at the scene and interviewed the dog’s owners, though it remains unclear whether a police report was filed (Iltalehti).
The Korso Pentecostal Congregation confirmed the incident in a press release, expressing regret over the event. "We are deeply sorry about what happened, and our thoughts and prayers are with the child and her loved ones," said Lead Pastor Jari Vahtera (Iltalehti). The congregation also stated that it would review its safety practices but declined to provide further details on the matter (Ilta-Sanomat).
According to the eyewitness, the dog had otherwise behaved calmly during the event but was removed from the area following the incident (Iltalehti). The congregation has indicated that it will assess safety measures in cooperation with the parties involved to prevent similar incidents in the future (Ilta-Sanomat).