Bullmastiffs seized after weekend attack
Two bullmastiffs that killed a small schnauzer and injured a woman near Fish Creek Provincial Park on the weekend had attacked another dog about a year ago.
Last May, their owner was charged with two counts of damage to another animal after the dogs injured a canine while on-leash, said Andrew Bissett, manager of animal and bylaw services.
Although the owner was able to keep the pooches after last year’s incident, this time they were turned over to bylaw officials, who will decide the animals’ fate following an investigation.
“(The previous attack) will obviously factor into the decisionmaking,” Bissett said.
Around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, a woman was pushing her infant in a stroller accompanied by her pet schnauzer on a leash. Also on a stroll on Canyon Meadows Drive at Bonaventure Drive was the owner of two bullmastiffs, who were also on leashes.
“They crossed paths and somewhere around that time, one of his mastiffs slipped out of the leash and went right for the schnauzer,” Bissett said.
When the mastiff owner tried to separate the animals, the second mastiff also got loose and joined the attack.
A concerned passerby tried to intervene and was bitten by the animals.
“She had serious bites to her arms and she got a bite to her face as well,” Bissett said.
EMS spokesman Adam Loria said the woman is in her late 30s.
“She was transported to hospital in stable, non-life threatening condition with various dog-bite wounds to her upper torso,” he said.
The schnauzer died in the attack.
Its distraught owner said Saturday she did not want to speak with media about the incident.
The owner of the mastiffs, whose name hasn’t been released, surrendered the animals. They are now being held at a city facility where they will undergo a 10-day quarantine period and a behavioural assessment.
The owner has been charged with two counts of causing death to an animal, two counts of attacking a person and two counts of being at large. The charges carry a mandatory court appearance, said Bissett, adding each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to $10,000.
“The dog owner of the mastiffs has been co-operating fully (and is) absolutely devastated with what’s occurred,” Bissett said. “It’s devastating for everyone involved.”