John Murray, 23, who along with his wife, Mercedes Jones, owns the two cane corsos, says he is facing "a bunch" of charges relating to the City of Mississauga's Animal Care and Control Bylaw and the Dog Owner's Liability Act.
He expressed frustration with having only a short amount of time to pay various fines, but refused further comment.
The City hasn't immediately said what charges Murray is facing.
Monica Guisao and her mother, Julia, were left devastated after their small dog was viciously attacked and killed by the two larger dogs.
While Guisao hadn't been told officially of the charges, she said "if it's true, I'm glad. We all need to learn to take responsibility for our actions. I hope he pays."
Guisao, 21, doesn't blame the two cane corso dogs for the horrific incident in which her chihuahua/pomeranian mix, Rusty, was killed.
But she wants their owner to pay for it.
The Guisaos were walking Rusty near their Lisgar home, on Greenbelt Cres., when the two much larger, and unattended, dogs approached. Julia, who stands 4-foot-9, was so frightened by the dogs' stature — the Italian breed of guard dog averages 100 pounds — that she dropped the leash and ran for help as soon as one of the loose canines nipped at Rusty, initially only catching his little hooded sweater.
Rusty scooted out onto the residential street near Waxwing Dr., where Guisao and the two dogs quickly followed. Kneeling over him to protect her pet, the York University student sustained minor injuries to her hands and arms while trying to fight off the dogs.
One of the attacking dogs grabbed Rusty by his neck and pulled him loose, violently thrashing him like a toy. As the commotion escalated, a crowd gathered and one man dropped a flower pot on the head of the large dog, freeing Rusty from its mouth.
The two dogs ran off while the smaller dog later died after surgery at a nearby animal hospital.
Peel Regional Police, who were called to the scene, said the back gate to the yard where the larger dogs' owners live was left open.
When Mississauga Animal Services arrived, they did not seize the dogs, as their shots were up to date.
The City's Enforcement Division is investigating the matter under the City's Animal Care and Control Bylaw.
The Dog Owner's Liability Act states that owners can be liable for damages resulting from a bite or attack by a dog on a person or a domestic animal. Charges could result in a $10,000 fine and/or six months in jail for the owner, and court-ordered restrictions for the dog such as warning signs, sterilization, the use of a muzzle or even euthanizing the dog.
The cane corsos — one male, one female — were not fixed. But Murray says he has the proper paperwork to breed the dogs.
The owners weren't home when the dogs escaped. Murray has said he's remorseful about the actions of Athena and Titan, both just over a year old.
"I take full responsibility for my dogs not being caged in — that is my fault," said Murray. "The lock was on the (backyard) gate, so I don't understand how the lock was pushed back and how the dogs squeezed out; (it) didn't make sense.
"Right now," added Murray, "the animals are grounded; they can't leave the property for 10 days."
Murray has offered to cover all vet expenses as well as buy the Guisaos a new dog.
He said he's being harassed by neighbours in the wake of the incident.
"Everybody wants to see the animals go down," he said, adding people have threatened to poison his dogs.
"I'm very sorry for what happened…I just don't want to see this happen again," he continued. "It's now just trying to prevent this from happening again."
(MISSISSAUGA.com - Oct 31, 2013)
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