Charges laid in an aggressive dog incident in Monterey Park

Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS) has laid charges in relation to an aggressive dog incident on August 21, 2014.

Around 7:30 p.m., ABS attended a home in the community of Monterey Park where it was reported a 61-year-old male sustained serious injury after being bitten by a pit bull. The individual was transported to hospital by Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

“Whenever someone visits your home, whether for personal or work reasons, pet owners need to ensure their pets are under control at all times,” says Doug Anderson, operations coordinator at ABS. “All dog owners are responsible for not only the safety of their dog, but the safety of those who come into contact with their dog.”

The dog owner has now been charged with one count of an Unlicensed Animal and one count of Dog Attack a Person.

The dog owner has chosen to surrender the dog into ABS’s custody where it will be quarantined for 11 days. A mandatory court appearance is required and consequences could include fines up to $10,000. In all serious dog bite incidents, the owners can sign the dogs over to The City of Calgary or have a Provincial Court Judge decide on the dogs' fate.

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.