Animal & Bylaw Services investigating serious aggressive dog incidents

Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS) is investigating after three people were injured in separate aggressive dog incidents.

In the first incident, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 18, a 70-year-old lady was injured by an unsupervised pit bull in the northwest community of Montgomery. The woman, who had been riding her bike, stopped to talk to a neighbour when the dog ran up and bit her hand, resulting in broken bones.

During the investigation, ABS determined the same dog was also involved in an incident which was reported on Oct 19. in which another person was chased and threatened.

As a result of these two incidents, the dog was seized on Oct.19 and charges of Unlicensed Dog, Dog Attacking a Person, Dog Attacking a Person Causing Severe Injury, Dog At Large and Dog Chasing or Threatening a Person were laid against the owner.

As in all serious dog incidents, a mandatory court appearance will be required and consequences could include fines up to $10,000. Owners are also provided the option to sign the dog over to The City of Calgary or have a Provincial Court Judge decide on the dogs’ fate.

In the second incident, on Oct. 20 at 1:50 p.m., a Canada Post employee received injuries from a dog bite while delivering a package to an address on Assiniboine Road S.E. A boxer bit the mail carrier on the hand, resulting in an open wound that required stitches.

ABS is continuing to investigate and charges are pending. It is believed the dog’s owners were out of town at the time of the incident and the dog had been left in the care of others.

In the third incident, which also happened on Oct. 20 at 2:20 p.m., ABS was called to a park at 50 Avenue and 14A Street S.W. on reports of a dog bite to a cyclist. According to the victim, he rode past a woman who was walking seven or eight dogs when one of the dogs bit him on the calf. The dog walker then left the scene before details could be shared.

ABS is asking anyone who may have information about this incident to call 311. The dog walker is described as heavy-set with sandy blond hair and the dog is described as a large black and tan cross-breed, roughly 30 lbs, with short hair.

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.