A small dog that was off-leash was killed by a large mix-breed dog also off-leash in a on-leash green space in Airdrie’s Stonegate neighbourhood on Oct. 16, according to Lynn Mackenzie, Municipal Enforcement (ME) team leader at the City of Airdrie.
Whether or not one or both of the owners will face fines under the City’s Dog Control Bylaw is still being determined, according to Mackenzie.
Mackenzie would not release the breeds of the dogs involved in the incident.
“(The incident is) currently under investigation. It could be both (owners). We have to determine through the investigation which (owner) could be fined. We’re still getting statements,” she said.
Only the owner of the small dog witnessed the attack that took place at 11:45 a.m., according to Mackenzie. The large mixed-breed dog was running at large in the neighbourhood.
Mackenzie would not provide information about whether or not the owner of the larger dog had reported it missing prior to the attack.
Mackenzie said the owner of the small dog called both the RCMP and ME after the attack. She would not release information about whether the smaller dog died immediately at the scene.
“Both went to the scene. Once we arrived, RCMP handed it over to us. We were able to find the owner of the large dog and (capture the dog at large),” she said.
“The aggressive dog is in custody and will be in quarantine for up to 10 days while ME investigates the incident and determines the next step.”
The dog will be assessed to see if it should be labeled aggressive.
The fate of the dog, including whether or not it will be euthanized, is still being determined, according to Mackenzie.
“That’s not up to ME or the City to decide. That’s up to the owner or a judge if it ends up going through the judicial process,” she said.
“If the dog is determined to be aggressive, then those steps are taken.”
Mackenzie said this is only the second incident this year where one dog has killed another dog.
There have been 41 dog bites in Airdrie since January and 12 of those resulted in fines, according to Mackenzie.
“Each case is assessed on its own merits,” she said.
“Out of the 41 incidents five were towards a person. There’s a charge up to $350 for a dog bite that’s in the bylaw, and there’s also the dog running at large which is $250.”
Mackenzie said neither dog was known to ME. No people were injured during the incident and there were no other witnesses.
Jennifer Pierson, a resident of Stonegate, said she and her husband had a similar encounter with a dog running at large in the neighbourhood in late July.
“We were in the park on Stonegate Drive and Stonegate Way and a very large German Shepherd/Husky mix dog came charging up, with no owner in sight. The dog had a look of ‘I’m going to kill whatever dog comes near me,’” she said.
“So my husband knew the only option was to pick up our 60 pound Bassett Hound.”
Pierson said the large dog lunged at her husband but he took an authoritative position and the dog ran off. Her husband then yelled to warn the other dog owners in the park to pick up their dogs.
Pierson said they didn’t report the incident to ME or the RCMP because they were just relieved to have avoided what could have been a dangerous situation.
According to Airdrie’s Dog Control Bylaw, dogs must be on leash when outside their own yards within the city limits, unless they are at one of the five off-leash dog parks.
Airdrie’s off-leash dog parks are located at East Lake Avenue and East Lake Line, on the pathway south of the cemetery to Spring Haven Crescent, in King’s Heights at Sharp Hill Way and Kings View Road, at Edmonton Trail on the pathway south of Third Avenue to Sandstone Crescent, and at Nose Creek Park.
