Toronto police said a 9-year-old child was seriously injured with life-changing wounds after being bitten and dragged by a dog at the Waterford playground on Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. in Little Norway Park, near Lake Shore West and Bathurst Street.

The police said a woman was inside the playground area with her dog off-leash when the father and his child arrived.

The police added that the dog went towards the child through an open gate, dragged them to the ground, and the woman and the father tried to make the dog release the child, and eventually, the dog did.

The police explained that the woman fled the playground with the dog.

The child was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

On Saturday evening, the police issued a picture of the woman and her dog, saying: "There is a concern for public safety."

She was described as being between 30 to 40 years old, ranging between five feet 9 inches and 5 feet 11 inches, with a large build and dark hair in a ponytail, the dog black and white, last seen wearing a tattered black jacket and a chain collar.

The police ask anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-1400 or contact the Crime Stoppers unit anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.