TWO DOGS SAVED IN ATTACK
Pit bulls ‘tore after us,’ says dog walker
A Calgary man was forced to fight off two pit bulls Friday as they attacked the two dogs he was walking.
Mike Dawson says he was walking his client’s dogs, Max and Georgia, and “minding our own business” in the southwest community of Millrise when he noticed two unattended dogs sitting on the lawn in front of a house down the block.
As he continued walking, Dawson says the two dogs — which both the man and police identified as pit bulls — came charging at him.
“I tried to get by without letting the dogs I was walking see them. … But the dogs spotted us nonetheless and tore after us. As soon as they got across the street, (they) just started attacking the dogs I was walking,” Dawson said.
Concern for his own safety went out the window when Dawson realized the pit bulls were more interested in his dogs than him. Dawson says he tackled the pit bulls and put both animals in a headlock.
“Neighbours were rushing out of houses because they heard all the screaming from the dogs. … I just yelled at a neighbour to phone 911, and then another guy came and helped me hold one of the pit bulls and waited until the police showed up,” he said.
Dawson only suffered a few scrapes and bruises in the incident and paramedics checked him out.
But one of the dogs, Georgia, suffered injuries to its right side in the attack.
“She’s on her way to the hospital right now and Max … he seems to be OK,” Dawson said.
Police were called to the 300 block of Millrise Drive S.W. around noon. Officers said the pit bulls were not tagged with licences and bylaw services is working to contact the owner.
Dawson, who owns a number of Pet Valu pet stores, says he is shaken by the incident and “knows what pit bulls can do.”
“You just hope for the best and hopefully they’re just going to stay calm,” he said. “I know enough not to run and to try and keep all the dogs calm … but those dogs were on a mission.”
Dawson said he is calling for more accountability for the owners of aggressive dogs, regardless of the breed.
“There needs to be stiffer penalties for the owners of these dogs,” he said. “When they bite, it’s a lot worse, and I’d rather be bit by a poodle than a pit bull.”
The incident comes only a day after a pit bull jumped out of a pickup truck and killed a woman’s Jack Russell outside the Travellers’ Inn on 16th Avenue N.W.
A spokeswoman for bylaw services confirmed the animal in Thursday ’s attack has been seized and the owner charged, but would not comment further.
I know enough not to run and to try and keep all the dogs calm … but those dogs were on a mission.