CANADA -- An eight-year-old border collie is recovering from surgery after being attacked by a pit bull in Merritt's downtown core late Thursday morning.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Voght Street and Quilchena Avenue, a two-year-old pit bull managed to break loose from its collar and attacked the collie, who was being walked by a Merritt woman alongside her three-year-old daughter in a stroller.
"When passing the border collie, the pit bull became excited and was able to break away from its collar and chased after the collie, grabbing it by its hindquarter and putting up a long struggle," says RCMP Cons. Tracy Dunsmore.
The collie sustained damage to its tendons and hindquarters while the woman sustained superficial injuries. Veterinarian costs are estimated to be $1,000. The child was unharmed.
City of Merritt bylaw services officer Bob Davis says the pit bull, not licensed with the City, broke lose after the woman walking it attempted to adjust its collar tighter, in anticipation of it going after the collie.
"She loosened the buckle to do it up tighter; it was at that moment that the pit bull broke loose … it was bad luck," says Davis.
With the attack happening in the downtown core, dozens of City agents immediately attended the scene to help as well as passerby.
"Several pedestrians and motorists, including firemen and police, jumped in to assist and were able to free the dog," says Dunsmore.
Meanwhile, Davis says, the woman walking the pit bull, who was not the owner, left the scene with a man, and shortly thereafter, upon seeing bylaw services approaching, the woman began to run before coming to a stop after she collapsed.
"It didn't make any sense," says Davis. "It all seemed surreal."
Upon approaching the pit bull, about a kilometer from the initial attack, Davis says he noticed another dog being walked nearby, a German shepherd pup. He says he grabbed the pit bull by its collar and fur, in order to prevent another attack, at which point he was knocked off his feet but still managed to restrain the dog.
"When it lunged, it just took me off my feet," he says.
"We put it in the back of the truck."
The pit bull was impounded, and, after conversation and with consent from the owner, the dog was put down at 10:45 a.m. this morning.
"I knew we were in a world of hurt for everyone," admits Davis.
He points out that the owner chose to euthanize his pit bull, at his own expense, when faced with potentially lengthy court proceedings and accumulative impoundment fees as well as the expense and limitations of the dog being labeled "dangerous" under bylaw.
"I had no doubt in my mind that this animal would re-offend," adds Davis.
Davis says it's been a sad day at City Hall because of the incident and warns pedestrians to keep their guard up.
"It just goes to show you, you can't let your guard down—with any type of dog."
In August, Merritt resident Marjorie Barton and her four-year-old Pomeranian, Foxy Lady, were attacked by an off-leash pit bull in a city park.
Davis says that since the attack in August, leash compliance in the city has been "incredible."
Currently, pit bulls are not banned in the City of Merritt. Dogs, of any breed, deemed to be dangerous by the City must pay expensive licensing fees and abide by more strenuous laws than other dogs.
Bylaw services impounded 10 dogs in the month of September, an increase from previous months, which bylaw services says is due to an increase in patrols.
(Merritt News - October 21, 2011)
