Dog attacks bring call for tougher action

Calgary may consider stiffer penalties if not breed-specific bans

CALGARY — Calgary’s bylaw boss is calling for stiffer fines for owners of vicious canines and higher licence fees for riskier breeds following a spate of dog attacks.

After five dog attacks in as many days that left two canines dead and four people injured, Ryan Jestin said he’ll urge city council to get tougher on owners of aggressive dogs.

“There’s a public safety issue here,” Jestin said, adding he’s shocked by the “particular viciousness” of the recent attacks.

On Wednesday, two dogs attacks were reported.

In one, a 14-year-old girl was bitten on both legs by a pit bulltype dog. The owner of that dog, described as a man in his 60s with a white beard, is still at large.

Then a woman was attacked at a bus stop by two dogs that have been seized, said Alvin Murray, operations manager for animal and bylaw services.

“The woman was actually thrown on the ground with the dogs on top of her,” said Murray, adding the string of attacks is “certainly alarming to us.”

On the weekend, two dogs were killed by pit bull- type breeds, while on Monday, two children were bitten by a Great Pyrenees.

On Wednesday, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he’s opposed to banning specific breeds, insisting that hasn’t worked in other jurisdic- tions, but added other measures could be taken.

“I’d be open to looking at stiffer penalties,” Nenshi said.

Currently, fines for serious attacks are a maximum of $10,000 and the possible euthanization of the offending dog.

In 2013, the number of reported dog bites in Calgary was 400 but exceeded 500 last year. So far in 2015, there have been 23 reported.

Jestin fell short of calling for breed bans, but said some types of dogs like pit bulls seem more aggressive. “There’s a reason why the City of Toronto has banned them outright,” he said.