Women who ordered dog attack will be sentenced in September

CANADA -- A 59-year-old Sundre woman convicted of ordering two pit bull dogs to attack a 26-year-old Calgary woman in August 2102 will be sentenced in September.

Rita Phillip was convicted of aggravated assault and criminal negligence causing bodily harm on June 17.

Deanna Wolfe suffered a torn off right ear along with deep wounds to her arms, legs and face in the August 18, 2012 attack in the Sundre mobile home owned by the accused.

Rita Phillip

During Phillip’s one-week trial in Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench before Justice Jo’Ann Strekaf, Wolfe testified that Phillip ordered the dogs to attack.

“She shouted, “attack, attack, attack,” said Wolfe, a Calgary resident. “Attack, attack that bitch. I begged her (Phillip) to stop her dogs. She sat there on the bed and watched.”

Wolfe was eventually rescued from the trailer by Sundre RCMP officers in response to a 911 call.

Severely mauled, Wolfe was unconscious when she was flown by STARS to Calgary’s Foothills Hospital, where she remained for three weeks. [Earlier story says her right ear had to be amputated.]

Phillip’s sentencing date was set on June 29. She remains out of custody on bail pending the Sept. 2 sentencing.

Aggravated assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

(Mountain View Gazette - July 8, 2014)

Earlier:

• Sundre woman guilty in pit bull attack