Charges laid following bite incident

The City of Calgary worked closely with the Calgary Police Service to investigate an aggressive dog incident that took place on March 30, 2016 at approximately 5:50 p.m.. This incident took place in the community of Aspen Woods, where a Canine Unit dog escaped from his handler’s yard and chased and bit a young boy.

As a result of the investigation, Calgary Community Standards has laid four charges against the handler of the Canine Unit dog, under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw: three counts of an animal running at large and one count of an animal attacking a person and causing severe injury.

“This decision reinforces how important it is for dog owners to keep their animals under control at all times,” said Alvin Murray, manager of Calgary Community Standards, North and West Region, “Pets should never pose a threat or become a nuisance in the community. Citizen safety is The City’s priority and the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw exists for that reason.”

A mandatory court appearance is required in all serious aggressive dog incidents and consequences will be determined by a judge. These consequences may include fines up to $10,000.

In Calgary, all aggressive dog incidents will be investigated and pet owners will be held accountable under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.

For more information on responsible pet ownership, visit calgary.ca/animalservices.

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