Animal control officers seize pair of dogs who killed 11-year-old boy
An 11-year-old boy was killed in an attack by two “very large dogs” Monday night in north Edmonton, police said.
Officers responding to the call at 82 Street and 11 Avenue SW just before 8 p.m. Monday found the boy suffering severe injuries after being mauled by two dogs.
The officers attempted life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived shortly after. The boy, however, was pronounced dead on scene, police said in a Tuesday afternoon news release.
The two dogs were seized by animal control peace officers.
“The dogs reportedly belong to a person who lives at the residence where the child was visiting,” police spokeswoman Cheryl Vourdenhout said in the release.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
On Tuesday afternoon, a pall hung over the quiet street that had been buzzing with emergency vehicles the evening before.
Police cars were still by the house in the 8200 block of 11 Avenue SW while members of the media gathered and kids walked home from school, some with their parents in tow.
Two small “beware of dog” stickers were posted on the garage and by the front door of the grey and white two-storey house that blended in with all the others.
“I'm so sorry to hear that,” neighbour Ray Lambert said after hearing news of the tragedy.
He said it was shocking to think it could happen in the Summerside neighbourhood.
“There's a whole bunch of people with dogs around here, and we all take the dogs for a walk,” he said.
“I knew there were dogs that lived there, I've seen them go for a walk, keeping quiet without barking every once in a while,” Lambert said. “But what kind of dogs do they have that would actually do that to a kid?
“It's not something you'd want to hear. Obviously something went wrong and I hope they figure it out,” he said.
“It's supposed to be a peaceful neighbourhood. We've got two schools over here, I've got a playground I take my grandkids to when they come over. They're used to dogs, but you think people have their dogs under control or they have dogs that are obedient.”
The atmosphere was sombre as neighbours walking their dogs and picking up kids from school learned about the tragedy.
Ashley Stokke lives in the neighbourhood.
“It's heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking,” she said. “It's really disheartening as a mom of three little boys.
“Personally, it makes me feel just a little fearful to have them out playing in the front yard, even just outside the house.”
Paige Christiansen lives in the nearby Mosaic complex. She was walking her “mix of everything” mid-sized dog on a harness leash.
“It's very shocking,” she said. “I'm just worried that it could happen to any one of us.”
Area resident Chelsea Stepian called the event “tragic.”
“I hope this death isn't in vain and the city does something to prevent this from happening again. No one should own animals that are this dangerous.”
A few doors down, a neighbour who asked not to be identified said it was “terrifying.”
He noticed dogs barking at the house, but nothing out of the ordinary.
“There's a lot of barking, but dogs bark, right?”
It's a quiet neighbourhood, he said. “But dogs are unpredictable animals.”
NEARLY 570 COMPLAINTS OF DOG ATTACKS IN 2023
Last October, the city's Animal Care and Control Centre (ACCC) said dog attacks had increased by 18 per cent year-over-year.
There were 569 complaints of dog attacks in Edmonton in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 where 507 attack complaints were made, said ACCC.
“Dog owners have a responsibility to ensure that their animal is well-cared for, well-socialized and does not present a risk to public safety,” ACCC director John Wilson said at the time.
Last March, a five-year-old boy was attacked and killed by three dogs on Whitefish Lake First Nation, about 206 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
When RCMP arrived, they found the young boy dead.
Residents identified and destroyed two of the dogs believed to be involved in the attack, RCMP said at the time.
Police found and destroyed a third dog.
There were no criminal charges laid in that case.