Charges are pending against the owner of a dog which attacked two smaller dogs within 12 hours and killed one of them in Big Valley last week.
The attacking dog, which is said to be a Husky-wolf cross, is currently under quarantine with the public health authorities waiting to see if it will show any signs of rabies.
“I was on my way to work, we walked every morning to work with Eve, the dog came from behind and grabbed her in the mid section, she didn’t have a chance,” said Joanna Jarmin, owner of the one-year-old Eve, the dog killed in the attack Tuesday morning, Sept.8.
“When I tried to get my dog, it attacked me,” she said with several of her fingers and parts of her hands still in bandages after being bitten by the attacking dog.
The dog is said to be without a license.
“I don’t think that its shots are up to date,” said Jarmin, who herself received a protective shot immediately after the attack.
Jarmin said she found the animal bylaws to be very inadequate and that she would like to see much stiffer penalties.
Big Valley’s current Bylaw 771, which regulates “restraining the running at large, the licensing and impounding of dogs”, stipulates that the owner of a dog that bites a person or an animal should be referred to court.
“I don’t feel this is insufficient,” said Jarmin. “It is then the judge who decides whether the animal is put down.”
“The fines are ridiculous, when you go court, the legal fees are outweighing the fines.”
“The night before, the same dog attacked Violet Moyer’s dog, even with that knowledge, the bylaw officer can’t seize the dog.”
In that incident, the attacked dog was hurt but survived.
“She was part of the community, everybody came to see Eve,” said Jarmin wiping her tears.
“But the fact that the dog was not put down right away upsets me.”
Animal Services officer Mike Alexandre, who investigated the incident said he had completed collecting statements from all parties and that he would proceed with the legal steps.
“We can not remove the dog without a court order, and for us to get the court order, we have to wait for the first appearance and see if the owner pleads guilty or not guilty.”
The date for the court appearance has yet to be set.
“At that time we can petition the court to seize the dog due to the severity of the attack,” Alexander said.
The owner of the dog could not be contacted for comment.