Man kills attacking pit bull in park

VANCOUVER— An aggressive pit bull was stabbed to death near Kitsilano Beach Parkin Vancouver Wednesday afternoon, police say.

A 72-year-old man had been out walking with his pug when he encountered another dog owner who was walking her pit bull, said Vancouver Police Department spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham.

Fincham said the dogs went up to each other for an introduction when the pit bull suddenly chomped down on the smaller dog’s neck.

When the two owners were unable to pull the pit bull off of the pug, the man pulled out a folding knife and killed the attacking dog, he said.

The pug received stitches for wounds at a veterinary hospital. The pit bull’s body was picked up by animal control and delivered to the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Lorie Chortyk, the general manager of community relations at the SPCA, said it was the first incident of its kind she could remember.

“We hear stories of perhaps farmers shooting dogs that come onto their property, but certainly this is the first I’ve heard of this.”

Marcie Moriarty, the B.C. SPCA’s chief prevention and enforcement officer, said a necropsy will help determine whether the dog died from a single stab wound or multiple wounds, and whether it died instantaneously or if there was any pain or suffering. The work will be done as part of an investigation under the prevention of cruelty to animals act.

“Our role now is to interview the parties involved and determine exactly what happened,” said Moriarty.

That investigation will include speaking with witnesses, and with co-operation from the owner of the pug, they will examine the smaller dog to confirm the police report that it had been bit during the attack.

Fincham said police are not considering charges at this time.