he parents of a 12-year-old boy are desperate to find a dog that bit him last week in order to save their son from a painful round of rabies shots.

Identifying the dog and ensuring it is not infected is the only way to spare Brett Huffman the treatment of needles and heavy dosage vaccines.

But the east Mountain family fear they are running out of time.

The Grade 7 student was walking along Concession Street near Upper Wentworth Street with two friends last Tuesday during lunch when the group ran into what Brett described as a middle-aged woman walking a black Labrador on a leash.

Within seconds the dog bit Brett in the stomach.

"The dog seemed really nice until he bit me," he said, adding he was surprised the woman just walked away.

The bite broke the skin and became infected.

After putting him on antibiotics, Brett's doctor told his parents that if the dog is not found and checked, Brett will have to undergo a series of shots to safeguard against the possibility of rabies.

He is scheduled to receive five needles as early as this Wednesday to be followed up by a month of weekly shots.

"It's a lot for a boy to have to go through," said his father Blair.

Blair and his wife Sarah have been scouring the central Mountain neighbourhood, collecting tips from people about black dogs in the area but have not managed to locate the dog's owner.

Public health and animal control officials have told the family that if found, the dog would be quarantined in its owner's house for 10 days and observed. If the dog did not exhibit any signs of rabies and did not have a violent history, it could likely stay with its owner.

Blair emphasizes he is not interested in punishing the owner and only wants to spare his son the painful treatment.

"Our sole goal is to make sure he doesn't have to get the shots," said Blair. "From what I've heard it didn't sound like a malicious attack. And the woman probably didn't realize how serious it was."

Animal control supervisor Calum Burnett said that even if the bite was minor, the owner could still face charges under a municipal bylaw depending on the dog's history.

Burnett added that the transmission of rabies through an animal bite was extremely uncommon but that given the potential severity of an infection, all precautions should be taken.

Blair said his son has suffered emotionally since the bite.

"He's putting on a brave face now," said Blair. "But he's been quiet and withdrawn lately, which is out of character for him. He's normally upbeat."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Huffmans at 905-574-1518 or animal control officials at 905-574-3433.