Dog attack victim wants animal control boundaries expanded

CANADA -- Allan Hare wants to start a petition to get animal control services either in Mission or the Fraser Valley Regional District to expand its boundaries to cover the Hatzic Prairie area.

Hare was surprised to learn there were no animal control agencies to turn to after he was attacked by a couple of Shar Pei dogs last week while he was out walking his two little Yorkie crosses on Shook Road near the Everglades Resort on Hatzic Lake.

Hare knew the larger dogs, who lived in the neighbourhood, were aggressive and their owner had a hard time keeping them under control, so when he saw them, he knew he had to go in the opposite direction.

But before he could make that decision, one of the Shar Peis, which he estimates to be about 50 or 60 pounds, broke loose and latched onto Hare's arm as he picked up his 12-pound puppies to protect them. Once Hare was pulled to the ground the Shar Pei went after one of the smaller dogs, he said.

Hare kicked the dog until it released his Yorkie.

"I scooped her up and we headed off right away," said Hare, whose puppy needed multiple stitches on the back, stomach and neck, and is recovering from the attack.

Hare also received a few stitches on his arm.

Hare learned about the gap in animal control coverage when he tried to report the incident.

Mission Animal Control only patrols areas inside the District of Mission borders, and the jurisdiction for the Fraser Valley Regional District animal control, does not go beyond River Road in Dewdney to the west.

"I'm concerned about little kids," said Hare, whose grandchildren often visit and take his dogs for a walk. "If something seriously happened, what avenues do they have?"

The RCMP look after incidents like this where animal control agencies don't have any jurisdiction, said Mission RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Dixon.

"We deal with it under the Livestock Protection Act," he explained.

Police will respond if there is a vicious dog case, but will not get involved if it's a barking complaint. Usually Mission Animal Control will assist officers, but are not obligated to do so, he added.

Dixon said Mounties seized a dog last week for destruction, but couldn't confirm it was the one that attacked Hare.

(Mission City Record - August 28, 2013)