Traumatized on the trail
Charlottetown woman and her cockapoo attacked by dog during a walk on March 9
A Charlottetown woman is urging dog owners to maintain control of their pets while using the Confederation Trail after she and her dog were attacked by another dog during a trail outing.
Kathryn Lewis was walking Oliver, her five-and-a-halfyear-old cockapoo, back to her car parked near a section of the Confederation Trail connecting with Mount Edward Road around 3 p.m. on March 9.
That’s when a large dog, which she believes to be a pit bull, slipped out of its leash and went after Oliver. The big dog even knocked down Lewis, who is 67, multiple times during the encounter.
“I’m traumatized,” the West Royalty resident told Saltwire in an interview March 10. “If you don't have control of the dog, you shouldn't be in a public space. It could’ve been a child.”
After sharing her experience on social media, Lewis said some people accused her of being a “pit bull hater” but it shouldn't matter what breed the dog was.
“I walked that trail a lot. There's children, there's people in baby carriages, there's lots of dogs, there's elderly people walking the trail and it's a public space. We need to feel safe. I don't really care what kind of dog it was,” she said.
‘FULL ANXIETY, PANIC ATTACK’
Lewis said Oliver didn’t bark or make any noises that day when out of nowhere the larger dog grabbed him from behind.
She can’t forget the sounds of Oliver screaming in pain when the other dog clamped onto his neck and wouldn't let go.
“The owner tried to get him to let my dog go, but it wouldn't. So, I punched the other dog, oh many times, like, my arm and my shoulder, my wrist are bruised. I was punching the dog in the head and in the face. It finally let go.”
Although the other dog's owner was able to restrain it briefly, it got loose again and ran towards Lewis and her cockapoo, knocking her down and clamping onto Oliver's neck again. At one point it even had Oliver's entire head
“If you don’t have control of the dog, you shouldn’t be in a public space. It could’ve been a child.”
Kathryn Lewis
in its mouth, “trying to rip his ears off,” Lewis said.
Both owners were on the ground, struggling to separate the dogs. Lewis was also knocked down about four times during the attack until the other owner managed to restrain their dog. The other owner kept saying, “sorry” again and again, said Lewis.
Finally, Lewis and Oliver escaped to her car. She called 911.
“After all the adrenaline rush, I had a full anxiety, panic attack. I couldn't breathe. And I couldn't move my shoulder,” she said.
NOT AGGRESSIVE
Paramedics took her to the ER, and Charlottetown Police Services responded to the scene, taking her car with Oliver inside home. Her husband later took the cockapoo to the AVC.
When the family came to pick up Oliver, they learned the vet had to shave part of the area around Oliver's neck to treat the bad bruising, Lewis said. The bite from the big dog didn't break the skin but caused bruising with teeth marks. Oliver also had lacerations on his ear from the other dog attempting to rip it off, she said.
“My dog is 25 pounds. He's not aggressive. He's one of those dogs that aren't even interested in people or dogs when we're walking the trail. He just wants to walk.”
Oliver came home sedated with various medications, including pain medication and antibiotics as they weren't certain if the other dog had been vaccinated. Lewis and her husband covered the vet bill, which totalled more than $300, less than they expected.
Lewis said she considered herself fortunate the big dog didn't bite her. She only needed pain medications at the hospital, but she still faces difficulty moving her shoulder and her arm remains painful.
‘IT’S CHANGED ME’
Cpl. Tim Keizer, who responded to the incident on March 9, confirmed both dogs were on leashes before it happened, but the larger dog slipped off its leash and went after the smaller one.
“We contacted the Humane Society, which are our partners, and the incident is still actively under investigation,” Keizer said in an interview.
“Many people walk the dogs religiously on the Confederation Trail and, and 99 per cent of the time, there's no incidents. This was just one of those things that happened. … And, you know, it's not an issue of breed. It’s just an unfortunate incident.”
The police will circle back with Lewis and the other dog owner once the investigation concludes. Saltwire contacted the Humane Society on March 10, but no one was available for an interview.
As for Lewis, she probably will never walk that trail again, even though it was a daily enjoyment for her.
“I felt very safe. I love my dog and I loved the walk. And that’s done now. And it’s not fair. It’s changed me.”