Owner charged after aggressive dog incident involving a child

CALGARY –Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS) is investigating another serious dog bite incident involving a child and would like to remind pet owners that they are responsible for the actions of their pets. The dog’s owner has been charged and the dog seized.

At around 7 p.m. on July 24, ABS responded to the community of Temple on reports that a seven-year-old boy had been bitten by a two-year-old Labrador Cross.

“The boy was visiting the dog owner’s home at the time of the incident. The child had been chasing the dog around the home for about 10 minutes before the dog bit him, causing serious injury to his face,” says Abdul Rafih, Operations Coordinator with ABS.

The boy’s parents were not present at the time and there were no witnesses to the incident.

“The boy and the dog were outside on the rear deck. The owner heard his dog yip, then the boy cry,” says Rafih. “The boy was immediately taken to a medical facility for treatment.”

The owner has been charged with one count of Bite to a Person and two counts of Unlicensed Animal. A mandatory court appearance is required in all serious cases and consequences could include fines up to $10,000.

A Provincial Court judge will decide the consequences for both the owner and the dog. Prior to the court hearing the dog will be housed at the Animal Services Centre where it will undergo a 10-day quarantine, which is mandatory for disease control when a person has been bitten. The dog involved has no prior history of aggression.

In Calgary, all aggressive dog incidents will be investigated and pet owners will be held accountable under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw. ABS takes public safety seriously and the bylaw is in place to help ensure this safety for all Calgarians.

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